Crack down on drink drivers nets 552 motorists

Police have warned that they are to be extra vigilant in a continuing crack down on drink driving in Northern Ireland.

Figures for this year's winter anti-drink driving campaign have unveiled that a total of 552 motorists, 495 of which were men, were detected drink driving, an increase of 23 since the same period last year.

Police confirmed that 29 drivers were three times the alcohol limit, two were four times over the limit and 45 people tested positive the morning after, between 6am and 11am.

These results also included drivers who were unfit to drive and those who either refused or were unable to provide a sample.

Rosie Leech, Acting Chief Inspector of the Road Policing Development Branch said: "I can assure people that there will be no let up in our determination to catch drink drivers and bring them before the courts. The fact that we detected 23 more drink drivers during this winter’s campaign reflects that determination. It is an all year round priority for us.

"The message from police is straightforward. If you drink and drive then there is a good chance that you will be caught. And that chance is increasing all the time. We made it clear that there would be no hiding place for those who drink and drive. The figures from across Northern Ireland show that we lived up to that determination. More than 3,700 drivers were screened.”

The campaign was supported by a number of Viper Operations in both Urban and Rural regions where Road Policing Command Units were joined by local police and specialist Tactical Support Groups to target a varied range of motoring offences.

Acting Chief Inspector Leech expressed her disappointment at the 552 people who decided to get behind the wheel in an unfit state. She said: "This of course means 552 people who are now looking into the New Year with the inevitable prospect of losing their licences, and perhaps in some cases their livelihoods.”

The Anti-drink Driving Campaign was widely supported by television, cinema and newspaper advertisements on both sides of the border and was known by the title 'Just one' which reflected how just one drink could impair judgement.

Acting Chief Inspector Leech concluded: "The evidence on which this new advertisement has been based shows that just one drink can impair your judgement. Please make that choice. Don’t take the first drink. And never, ever drink and drive."

(EF)