Police launch Christmas drink drive crackdown

MOTORISTS in Tyrone are being warned of the dangers of drink driving as the PSNI launches its annual December crackdown this week.

Last year, 40,021 vehicles were stopped in the North over the Christmas and New Year period and a total of 14,459 roadside breath tests were conducted by PSNI.

As a result, there were 241 arrests for drink driving and a further 28 for drug offences.

The Fermanagh & Omagh district recorded the third highest arrests for drink or drug driving offences in Northern Ireland.

“Police always step up roadside breath testing during the Christmas party season,” says Hunter Abbott of breathalyser firm AlcoSense Laboratories.

“If you drink four pints of medium-strong beer or four large glasses of wine, it can take as long as 14 hours for the alcohol to clear your system.

“Even with just 10mg per 100mL of alcohol in your blood (one eighth of the legal limit in Northern Ireland) you are 37 pere-cent more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than when completely sober.

“The rules are simple. If you’ve been drinking in the evening, don’t drive. If you’re driving the next day, test yourself with a personal breathalyser to make sure you’re clear of alcohol from the night before. One in five drink drive convictions are in the morning”.

Belfast City was the hotspot last Christmas with 54 arrests for drink or drug driving offences – followed by Mid Ulster (42) and Fermanagh & Omagh (31).

The lowest district was Ards and North Down with 14 arrests.

According to the latest PSNI report published last week, there were 2,988 drink and drug driving offences in the 12 months ending 30 September.

Over half of offenders (1,568) were in the 30-49 age group. Four fifths (79 per-cent) were men.

All convicted drink drivers in Northern Ireland are now automatically referred to a rehabilitation training course. Those completing the course will see their disqualification period cut by up to 25 per-cent.

Penalties for driving when above the legal limit can include six months in prison, a fine of up to £5,000 and/or a ban for at least 12 months.