ENFORCERS of tough new drink drive rules and a charity have called for people to become informants.

They are urging the public to report anyone they believe is drinking and then driving.

Charity Crimestoppers launched a national campaign on the day tough new drink driving limits were introduced in Scotland.

Tests have shown even a single drink is now enough to put drivers over the new limit of 50mg alcohol in 100ml of blood.

In the past year, Crimestoppers have logged nearly 10,500 calls from Scots with just under 500 about drink driving.

Nationally, drink comes second only to drugs in the crimes reported to the independent crime- fighting charity.

It says many people see friends, family, work colleagues or neighbours drink driving regularly but do not go to the police because they fear being identified.

Now in the run up to Christmas, the charity is urging anyone who has information about regular drink drivers to get in touch,

Angela Parker, national manager for Crime- stoppers in Scotland, said: "Too many people lost their lives last year due to drink-drive incidents.

"But there are still people out there who regularly drink drive and refuse to change their behaviour.

"We would urge you to give information to Crime- stoppers anonymously about anyone who is regularly drink driving.

"Crimestoppers never asks for your name or details, we cannot trace calls or track information online and we do not record our calls. You will not have to give a statement to police or go to court.

"We don't want to know who you are, just what you know. By taking action, you could be helping to save a life."

Assistant chief constable Bernard Higgins said: "Drink driving causes significant impact on families and our local communities, not just at Christmas but throughout the year."

He said lowering the drink driving level was a significant step towards improving safety on Scotland's roads. He said: "On average, 20 lives are lost each year in Scotland as a result of drinking and driving.

"A further 90 people are seriously injured and we cannot allow this unnecessary toll of misery to continue.

"This time last year a high number of drivers were caught drink driving because concerned members of the public phoned Crimestoppers or the police to report drivers they thought were over the limit.

"This undoubtedly saved lives and I would again urge anyone who has concerns about someone who they know or suspect to be drinking and driving to make the phone call that could save an innocent party's life."

Neil Greig of the IAM motoring trust welcomed the introduction of the new tough drink drive rules but called for reduced penalties for people caught driving just over the new limit.

Mr Greig said: "The new limit is going to be a popular measure.

"The vast majority of surveys and the general view of most motorists is that drinking and driving is a big issue and anything that clamps down on it is welcomed.

"However, ideally we would have liked to have seen the penalties at the lower limit slightly reduced as happens in other European countries."

Scots caught drink driving face maximum penalties of six months in prison, a driving ban of at least a year and a fine of up to £5000.

The same apply to any- one who refuses to give a specimen of breath, blood or urine for analysis.

Mr Greig said: "In other countries with a lower limit, you just pay a fine or have a shorter ban if you are caught at the lower end of the scale.

"They recognise that people who have been drinking and cause death and injury are usually well over the limit."

If you know of a regular drink driver, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or securely at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

If you see someone attempting to drive while drunk call 999 as this may require urgent action.

vivienne.nicoll@ eveningtimes.co.uk