Drink drive arrests rise during Christmas crackdown

Drink driving up but accidents down during month-long police campaign.

DEVON and Cornwall Police figures show an increase in the number of people who failed breath tests during the Christmas period.

There was a 38 per cent rise in positive breath tests throughout the force area compared with the previous year.

In total, 216 drivers were over the legal limit, 72 of whom were under the age of 25.

The newly-released figures show that there were 1,527 collisions during the month-long drink/drugs driving campaign, compared to 1,960 the year before.

The Gazette asked police to see figures for North Devon but was told a breakdown of results for individual areas was unavailable.

From December 1 to January 1, officers carried out a number of evening and early morning patrols supported by the Special Constabulary and PCSOs.

Inspector Richard Pryce said: “There are some mixed results from this year’s campaign.

“While we are pleased to see the drop in the number of collisions on our roads, we are disappointed with the increase in the number of positive breath tests.

“It is clearer now that educational campaigns in drink/drug driving must be directed even more at the younger driver age group – we have to get our message across.

A similar drink-drive campaign will take place in the summer.