Drug Driving Now Bigger Road Safety Threat Than Alcohol in Scotland, Figures Suggest

Drug driving has overtaken drink driving as the leading impairment risk on Scotland’s roads, according to new figures from Police Scotland’s annual festive enforcement campaign.

During the crackdown, officers carried out around 3,500 roadside impairment tests. While breathalyser tests significantly outnumbered drug swabs, more motorists were found to be over the limit for drugs than alcohol.

Police conducted more than 3,000 breath tests, detecting 319 drivers above the legal alcohol limit. In contrast, just 626 roadside drug tests resulted in 398 positive results — 79 more offenders than those caught drink driving, despite drug testing taking place at roughly one-fifth of the rate.

The data has raised concerns among road safety experts, who warn that the scale of drug driving may be far greater than enforcement figures suggest.

Testing Pressures and “Rationing” Concerns

Police Scotland has indicated it is keen to expand drug testing capacity. However, pressure on forensic services has led to what critics describe as a rationing system for swabs sent to laboratories for confirmation analysis.

A recent Forensic Services report showed drug testing volumes have been running 23 per cent above the 270-case maximum capacity over the past six months, placing strain on laboratory resources.

The implication, campaigners say, is that thousands of impaired drivers may be avoiding detection due to testing constraints.

Political Reaction

Opposition politicians have called for increased funding and staffing to address the issue.

Scottish Conservatives justice spokesperson Liam Kerr MSP said drug driving was “spiralling” under the current administration.

He argued that forensic testing capacity is overstretched and that police reductions have left too few specialist road traffic officers available to tackle the problem effectively.

Scots Labour justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill also urged greater investment.

“The Scottish Government must ensure that police officers working across Scotland’s roads have the resources they need to ensure that people remain safe and lives are not needlessly lost,” she said.

A Shift in Road Safety Risk

For decades, drink driving has been viewed as the primary impairment threat. However, the latest figures suggest a significant behavioural shift.

Unlike alcohol, where limits and public awareness campaigns are long established, drug impairment presents more complex enforcement challenges. Detection requires specialist equipment, confirmatory laboratory testing and often more time-consuming roadside procedures.

Road safety advocates warn that without expanded testing capacity and stronger enforcement, the true scale of drug driving may remain hidden.

With festive enforcement typically representing a peak policing period, the results suggest that drug driving is no longer a marginal issue — but a central road safety challenge.