SCOTLAND'S drink driving figures took a turn for the worse yesterday

with an increase of 45% of drivers failing breath tests.

Police said that 27 people tested positive and five refused tests in

the 24 hours from 7am on Tuesday.

A total of 1248 drivers were tested. Figures for number tested over

the corresponding period last year, when 16 people tested positive and

six refused, were not available.

Earlier this week Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, Scottish Office

Environment Minister, praised drivers for the lower number of positive

breath tests, despite increased testing.

He said: ''I am particularly pleased that in the past week the number

of motorists failing or refusing the breath test has fallen despite a

21% increase in the number of tests taken from the corresponding period

last year. Although these figures are encouraging, there is no room for

complacency.''