The proportion of drivers stopped by police and found to be over the limit rose over the festive period in Scotland.

one in 30 of the drivers stopped in Scotland during the festive period were over the limit.

New figures from Police Scotland for its four-week enforcement campaign show that 3.3% of drivers tested for drink driving were found to be over the limit compared to 2.8% a year before.

Of the almost 19,000 drivers stopped during the 2016/17 festive period campaign, a total of 625 – or 1 in 30 – were over the limit, compared with 1 in 36 – during the same period in 2015/16.

The rise came after a 15% increase in checks and follows Scotland’s introduction of lower drink drive limits in December 2014.

Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins said: “It is an absolute disgrace that so many people were prepared to risk their own lives, as well as the lives of innocent people, by recklessly taking to the roads while in a drunken state. We were massively active over the festive season and while the number of tests we carried out was greater than last year, proportionately the number of people caught, particularly those the following morning, was greater still.

“Drivers need to take far greater personal responsibility, and also be aware that while this campaign is over, my officers still have a very sharp focus on detecting and arresting drunk drivers. I repeat the guidance given at the start of the campaign – don’t risk it, because – as these 625 people have found to their cost – we will detect and arrest you.”