Drink drive campaign hitting the mark

2:43pm Tuesday 9th January 2001

THE Christmas campaign against drink driving by Hertfordshire Police resulted in more than 70 drivers failing breath tests in the festive season.

Throughout the efforts, which ran from Monday, December 18, to Tuesday, January 2, 182 drivers involved in accidents resulting in collisions were given breath tests.

Of these, 14 failed the tests and a further 58 drivers failed random breath tests.

In the 1999 Christmas period in the county, 12 drivers involved in injury-causing accidents had been found to be over the legal limit by Hertfordshire Constabulary but, since then, its has gained two new divisions.

Inspector Stephen Foyle, of Hertfordshire Constabulary's road policing department, said: "It is very difficult to make an accurate comparison between this year's figures and those of last year's campaign, as we have two extra divisions.

"Since April 1, we have been policing the divisions of Hertsmere and Broxbourne, an increase in area of about 20 per cent.

"This year, we have seen the number of people who gave positive breath tests rise by just two, which is very encouraging given the increase in area.

"It shows the don't drink and drive message is being heeded by the vast majority of motorists.

"However, there still exist drivers who act anti-socially and irresponsibly, putting their own and other innocent road-user's lives at risk. Hertfordshire Constabulary will not tolerate this and will continue to target, throughout the year, those drivers who deliberately flout the drink-driving laws."

In Watford and Three Rivers division, there were four positive breath tests following accidents which caused injury the same total as last year.

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