Drink and drug-driving incidents in Scotland have risen by almost 50 percent over the past seven years - but the number of convictions for the crime have fallen. Data from the Scottish Government shows that offences related to driving under the influence increased from 5,218 in 2014/15 to 7,773 in 2021/22.
Despite this, the number of drivers convicted for the crime actually declined over the same time period, falling from 3,681 to 2,185. The figures were published by the Scottish Conservatives, who obtained them from Justice Secretary Keith Brown.
Tory justice spokesman Jamie Greene blamed Scottish Government's "mismanagement of the justice system" for the discrepancy between the figures. He said: "It's appalling that more and more people are willing to risk their own lives - and more importantly those of others - by drink or drug-driving.
