Hundreds fail breath tests

A zero-tolerance approach to drink-driving in Wales over Christmas resulted in more than 500 motorists being taken off the roads after failing breath tests, police revealed today.

In the Dyfed Powys Police area 3,132 drivers were stopped, of which 96 were found to be over the drink-drive limit. Police today described the results of the month-long crackdown as "encouraging".

Chief Inspector Phil Davies, of Dyfed Powys Police, said: "It is encouraging to see that despite the greater number of breath tests carried out over this campaign that there appears to be a reduction across Wales in positive results.

"We will continue to drive forward the message that drinking and driving is not acceptable and target those individuals that continue to put the lives of others at risk."

Results showed a 12 per cent drop in the number of positive tests compared to last year, despite almost 3,000 more breath tests being administered to motorists than during last year's campaign.

"However, police remain concerned at the irresponsible actions of the minority of drivers who continue to get behind the wheel while over the legal limit," added Mr Davies.

"Many of these tests were carried out during routine roadside checks, or following road traffic collisions, but information from members of the public enabled officers to carry out intelligence-led operations throughout the campaign, targeting those who drive under the influence."

The All Wales Christmas Anti Drink-Drive Campaign for 2006 was launched on the opening day of the Wales Rally GB in December.

North Wales Police officers carried out a total of 4,404 tests which resulted in 133 positives or three per cent.

While in Dyfed Powys the positives figure was 3.7 per cent.

In South Wales, a total of 219 drivers tested positive out of the 3,961 tests or 5.5 per cent, while in Gwent the figure was five per cent - 136 positives from 2,697 tests.

There were also a total of 19 arrests for driving under the influence of drugs, four in North Wales, six in South Wales and nine in Gwent but none in Dyfed Powys.

By Debbie Knox