Officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland today pledged to catch the "irresponsible minority" who drink and drive over Christmas.
At the unveiling of the PSNI annual campaign anti-drink driving campaign Assistant Chief Constable Roy Toner said once again, the message was simple "never ever drink and drive".
Police said there would be 21 families with an empty space at their Christmas table because of those who continued to drink and drive this year.
Assistant Chief Constable Toner said 21 deaths so far this year on top of 37 deaths and 145 serious injuries last year due to drinking drivers was clearly unacceptable.
"The human consequences of drinking and driving are quite simply horrific. Drinking and driving takes lives and leaves others seriously injured," he said.
Anyone tempted to drink and drive should ask themselves the question "Could I live with the shame of killing someone?"
Police figures reveal that in the first nine months of the year more than 3,000 drink drivers had been detected on Northern Ireland's roads.
Mr Toner said: "An irresponsible minority ignore all advice and warnings and, what's more, ignore the feelings of a vast majority of people, for whom drinking and driving is shameful and unacceptable."
PA