Drink-drivers blamed for 1,000 crashes

JASON BENNETTO,

Crime Correspondent

Nearly 1,000 accidents were caused by drinking and driving over the Christmas period, despite a drop in the number of motorists failing breathalyser tests, it was revealed yesterday.

The total number of positive tests over the Christmas and New Year campaign in England and Wales was 4,330, compared with 4,706 over the same period last year, a fall of 8 per cent.

For the first time police forces disclosed the number of alcohol-related accidents caused during the festive season. This year there were 939, which resulted in at least three deaths.

The police are particularly concerned about a hard core of motorists, mostly middle aged men, who ignore all the warnings and drive while over the alcohol limit. David Williams, Chief Constable of Surrey and chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers Traffic Committee, said: "While the overall reduction should be welcomed, it must be treated with a degree of caution, given that 22 per cent of those who gave positive tests had been involved in an accident.

"Over the campaign period we know that at least three people have lost their lives in drink-related road accidents and seven others suffered horrific injuries."

He said the small drop was partly due to a hard-hitting Government campaign, which included television advertisements featuring a young man left severely disabled in a car crash after he drank and drove.

He predicted there would be a nationwide debate on whether the legal limit for drink should be reduced. Andrew Howard, head of road safety at the AA, yesterday blamed Britain's drink-drive problem on "a small minority of motorists who continue to ignore the legal limit and deliberately flout the law.

Despite the fall of 8 per cent, it is hard to judge the impact of this year's campaign as few police forces provided comparisons with previous years. In some cases drops in the number of positive tests were because fewer motorists were breathalysed.

There were increases in the number of positive tests compared with last year in Devon and Cornwall, North Yorkshire, Thames Valley, Hampshire, Durham, and Lancashire. In the Metropolitan police area positive tests were up to 850 from 812 the previous year.

Drink-driving in five major police areas

GREATER MANCHESTER: 53 road accidents related to drink-driving. The number of motorists over the limit dropped from 352 last year to 336.

MERSEYSIDE: A total of 36 drivers were positive out of 3,223 tested - a rate of only 1.1 per cent.

METROPOLITAN POLICE: Number failing the breathalyser rose from 812 to 850. There were 135 alcohol-related road accidents.

SOUTH YORKSHIRE: 26 accidents were caused by drunk drivers. Police recorded 95 positive tests compared with 94 the previous year.

WEST MIDLANDS: 189 people were found to be over the limit in 1,026 tests. Last year, 252 motorists were arrested from 1,577 breathalyser tests.