PSNI catch 10 per cent more drink-drivers

The PSNI caught 10 per cent more motorists drink-driving over the Christmas period this year than they did for the same period…

The PSNI caught 10 per cent more motorists drink-driving over the Christmas period this year than they did for the same period last year.

In total the police detected a 529 motorists during their anti-drink driving blitz, an increase of 51 on last year.

Assistant Chief Constable Roy Toner warned police would maintain the pressure on drink drivers and bring them before the courts.

He said "The message from the police is simple. If you drink and drive then there is a good chance that you will be caught. And that chance is increasing all the time."

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The detections include motorists who were unfit to drive, or who were unable or refused to give a sample. The figures showed 149 drivers were over twice the legal limit; 30 were over three times the legal limit; and two were over four times the legal limit. The majority of the detections, 242, were between the period of 1am and 6am.

The number of "morning after" detections (between 6am and 12 noon) was 22.

Police throughout Northern Ireland screened more than 3,800 drivers, a rise of more than 700 on last year's campaign.