News Release
Fewer drink and drive
Dated: 20 Jan 2011
Northumbria Police carried out 1,383 drink driving tests over the festive period and recorded a fall in the number of drivers breaking the law.
Between December 1, 2010, and January 1, 2011, the number of tests carried out by police was up 37% compared to the same period in 2009/10, however the number of positive or refused tests fell from 94 to 88, a decrease of 3%.
Acting Chief Inspector Sarah Pitt said: "Although it's encouraging that an increasing majority of people who were stopped were heeding the drink drive message, there clearly remains a number of people who still think they won't get caught.
"Those who have failed drink drive tests are facing a minimum of a year's driving ban, a fine, huge increases in insurance premiums and difficulties in hiring cars.
"In many cases it can lead to them losing their job and even their home, but their actions may have had even more tragic consequences as they are putting their own and other people's lives at risk.
Northumbria Police’s December campaign ran in tandem with the national Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) initiative.
Although the campaign has ended, officers continue to routinely carry out tests following collisions or when an officer suspects that a driver is drunk.
Acting Chief Inspector Pitt added: "As a force we will continue to enforce the law in relation to drink driving as part of our everyday business. This tough stance is not just taken at Christmas but goes on for the entire year."
Forcewide statistics December 1, 2009, to January 1, 2010:
Total number of tests = 1,012
Total positive or refused = 94
% of total tests which were positive or refused = 9.3%
Forcewide statistics December 1, 2010, to January 1, 2011.
Total number of tests = 1,383
Total positive or refused = 88
% of total tests which were positive or refused = 6.4%