Christmas drink driving shows marginal drop

The recent Christmas drink-driving message appears to have had a beneficial impact but there is still room for considerable improvement, new figures suggest.

Some 6.6 per cent of the 146,000 drivers tested during December in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were found to be above the legal alcohol limit, according to the Association of Chief Police Officers.

This is a fall from the 6.9 per cent figure recorded in the same month during 2005.

"We believe this has been the most productive drink drive campaign to date with the number of breath tests carried out nationally having increased by nearly ten per cent," commented Meredydd Hughes, South Yorkshire Police's chief constable.

He added that those arrested "will be brought to justice and could face disqualification, a fine or imprisonment as a result of their choice to drink and drive."

The association did raise concerns that an increasing number of drivers were being arrested for driving while under the influence of drugs.