Nearly 100 fail breath test in crackdown on drink-driving to cut fatalities

Throughout June, South Yorkshire Police targeted “known drink-driving hotspots” and 1,595 drivers were breathalysed, of which 99 – or 6.2 per cent – tested positive or refused to provide a breath test. The initiative was part of a national crackdown by the Association of Chief Police Officers which ran throughout the month of June and aimed to reduce the number of people killed and injured on the roads by drink-drivers.

Nationally, drink drive figures provided by ACPO show that, across the country, 88,629 tests were conducted and 5,373 tested positive, or refused or failed to provide a breath test.

All drivers who provide a positive breath test or fail to provide a sample face losing their licence for at least a year. They could also go to prison for six months or pay a fine of up to £5,000.

South Yorkshire’s chief inspector for road policing, Stuart Walne said: “Running an intelligence-led initiative means that while the total number of breath tests carried out has reduced in comparison to previous initiatives, the percentage of people caught drink driving has actually increased compared to the figures from last summer.

“The increased percentage of arrests shows we are serious about keeping people safe from drink drivers.

“I’d like to thank not only my colleagues for working so hard, but also the public in helping to inform us of regular drink drivers.

“It’s easy to avoid drink driving – you can nominate a designated driver, take a taxi or simply not drink alcohol for the night.

“As a driver you must take responsibility for your own actions and think about the effects on those close to you if you don’t come home or if you kill someone else as a result of driving under the influence of alcohol.

“No-one wants to have a police officer knocking on their door to tell them that someone that they care about has been killed as a result of something so easy to avoid.

“If you know someone that regularly drives under the influence of drugs or alcohol I would urge you to contact South Yorkshire Police on 0114 2202020.”