23/01/2012

Drink Drive Arrests Increase Over The Festive Period

Police in Merseyside have recorded an increase in the number of people drink and drugged driving during December.

A total of 7,882 drivers were breathalysed by officers this festive period with 176 motorists arrested for being over the legal limit or failing to provide a specimen - an increase on the previous year's figures of 7,850 drivers breathalysed and 119 arrested.

Officers stopped a record number of vehicles and performed the highest amount of breath and drug impairment tests to date as part of its latest campaign. Of the 69 drug impairment tests conducted by officers 19 arrests were made compared to 33 drivers tested for impairment in 2010, which led to 12 arrests.

Chief Inspector John Hogan, head of Roads Policing in Merseyside, said: "Despite the obvious dangers of combining driving with alcohol or drugs it is disappointing that a number of people chose to ignore the safety messages and get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol or taking drugs.

"While they represent a small minority of drivers, I cannot stress enough the danger that these people present to themselves and other road users.

"Merseyside Police is committed to addressing drink and drug driving and these statistics reflect this commitment. Although the figure represents an increase on last year's arrests officers have carried out more tests than last year.

"We now have more officers than ever trained to spot the signs displayed by drug impaired drivers and we will continue to train more officers. The public can be reassured that we take this issue very seriously, as can be seen by these statistics."

(DW)

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