More drivers than ever before have been breath tested during the All Wales Christmas Drink Drive campaign.
Throughout Wales, almost 55,000 drivers were breath tested by the four Welsh forces in the campaign, which ran from 1st December 2009 to 1st January 2010 – compared to over 36,000 in 2008.
In the South Wales Police area, 6, 956 breath tests were administered with 285 arrests.
In North Wales 16,398 breath tests were administered which resulted in 131 arrests.
In Gwent, 20,578 breath tests were administered which resulted in 80 arrests. Dyfed-Powys Police carried out 10,863 tests with 141 arrests.
South Wales Police Roads Safety Manager Wayne Tucker said:
“It is disappointing that a significant number of drivers, including young people, are ignoring the message that drink driving kills and ruins lives.
“We carried out intelligence-led targeted patrols for example, in areas where intelligence suggested there have been collisions or problems with drink driving.
“This resulted in 285 drivers arrested for drink driving or refusing or failing to provide a sample at the roadside.
“What is equally concerning is that of the 2,128 under 25 s breath tested, 67 were positive, refused or failed to provide. That’s dozens of young people who could have been killed on our roads or killed others.
“Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs results in a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment, an unlimited fine, disqualification from driving for at least 2 years and a mandatory extended driving test.
“The campaign may have ended but our efforts to tackle this reckless behaviour will continue 24 hours a day.
“If you do know of anyone drinking and driving, please call us on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Your call could save a life.”
