PSNI Launch Winter Drink-Drive Appeal

Police in Northern Ireland have launched the 2014/15 winter drink drive operation.

This year's message is, "just one drink can kill, so never, ever drink and drive".

During the 2013/14 Christmas period, which runs from the end of November until the beginning of January, a total of 258 drink drivers were caught.

The youngest was just 15-years-old, with the oldest aged 78.

Around a fifth of the drivers were women.

The highest reading from a drinker was 151mg – more than four times the legal limit – police said.

Launching the operation in Newry today (27 November), Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said: "During the winter drink drive operation last year, we detected 258 people who took the risk of killing or injuring themselves, their family, friends and other innocent road users by deciding to drive after drinking.

"This figure was particularly disappointing, but considering that some of these people were so drunk they could barely stand up, it just beggars belief that some people still insist on attempting to drive after drinking.

"If you find yourself asking the question, 'I wonder if I'm ok to drive?', or if you find yourself trying to calculate if you are under the drink drive limit, whether that's after one drink, or the morning after a night out, just don't take the risk. The consequences could be catastrophic.

"It only takes one drink to impair your decision making ability. The only right decision is to leave the car or motorbike at home if you're drinking."

Constable Todd added that the PSNI would also be coordinating road safety operations across the border counties with their colleagues from An Garda Síochána Traffic Corp.

(JP/CD)