Lanarkshire recorded more drink and drug driving offences than any other area in Scotland during Police Scotland’s festive enforcement campaign.
Provisional figures for the period from 1 December 2025 to 4 January 2026 show the division led the country in detected impairment driving, driven largely by high numbers of drug driving offences over Christmas and New Year.
More than 3,500 roadside tests were carried out across Scotland during the campaign as officers targeted drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Nationally, drug driving offences outnumbered drink driving detections, despite far fewer drug tests being conducted.
Police Scotland carried out 626 roadside drug tests, detecting 398 offences, compared with 319 offences from 3,021 breath tests.
The figures suggest drug use behind the wheel is now being detected more frequently than alcohol during enforcement activity.
Greater Glasgow recorded the second highest number of offences overall, with the two divisions accounting for a significant proportion of Scotland’s festive-period detections.
Road policing and local policing teams carried out checks in towns and cities across the country, during a period associated with increased traffic and social activity.
The campaign ran alongside wider road safety work, including a Scottish Government behaviour change campaign aimed at young drivers.
Chief Superintendent Scott McCarren, head of Road Policing, said officers would continue to target drink and drug drivers throughout the year.
“Alcohol and drugs make a collision more likely and the impact destroys lives,” he said.
“You could still be over the limit the morning after drinking or taking drugs. If caught, you could face a 12-month driving ban, a fine of up to £5,000 and up to six months in prison.”
The broader offence data suggests the issue is not limited to urban areas, with significant numbers of drug driving offences also recorded in rural divisions such as Highlands and Islands.
Police Scotland cautioned that enforcement figures reflect recorded offences rather than convictions and are influenced by targeted policing activity.
However, the scale of drug driving detections has raised questions about whether public awareness has kept pace with changing patterns of substance use.