Less drink driving at Christmas than summer

06/07/2007

Drink driving may now be more common in the summer than at Christmas, say senior police officers.

A six day police operation last month found almost 8 per cent of motorists stopped were over the limit, compared to 4 per cent of those stopped during the Christmas party season last year.

High profile anti-drink-driving campaigns are traditionally targeted at revellers heading home from Christmas party celebrations during the festive season, because this is thought to be when people are tempted to offend.

The figures were collected as part of a Europe-wide campaign co-ordinated by the European Traffic Police Network (TISPOL), which found that of 11,405 drivers stopped in the UK, 906 (8 per cent) were found to be over the alcohol limit. A similar week-long campaign held during the Christmas party season checked 31,451 drivers with 4 per cent proving positive.

TISPOL President Eddy Greif said: “The rise in the number being caught could be down to police being better able to spot drink drivers, but it could also suggest that drink driving is on the increase. Whichever it is, the fact that so many drink drivers were caught in a single week is a matter for great concern … we are determined to get the message across that drink driving is unacceptable.”

Deputy Chief Constable Adam Briggs of North Yorkshire Police, who is the UK's TISPOL representative, was also concerned by the results: “We are determined to get the message home that drink driving is unacceptable at any time of the year.”