Police are baffled at drink and drive rise (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Police are baffled at drink and drive rise

POLICE have spoken of their disappointment that the message not to drink and drive over Christmas and New Year was not heeded by motorists.

Between December 18 and January 2 71 people were arrested for being over the limit, eight more than last year.

Of these, 20 were arrested following accidents involving injuries.

In the Salisbury and Kennet police division, 24 drivers were over the limit, in North and West Wiltshire there were 12, with 35 in Swindon.

Police road safety officer, Sgt Dave Melvin, said the figures released by the Association of Chief Police Officers concentrated on those arrested after accidents that resulted in inuury because they want to stress the relationship between drinking, driving and people being killed or hurt.

He said: "But 71 is the figure of people caught risking not only their licences but the lives and limbs of other people. This is firm evidence of the number of people prepared to risk it, despite all the warnings we and the Government have issued.

"It is particularly disappointing that the figures are so high this year because it comes on the back of a successful European initiative that we co-operated on early in December."

Between December 13 and December 19, 879 drivers were breath tested across the county and 33 were arrested for providing positive specimens. Five were arrested on suspicion of driving while unfit through drugs.

Sgt Melvin said: "We recognise that drink driving is an all-year-round problem, but with all the publicity about the anti-drink-drive campaign over Christmas and New Year, you would have thought that the message would be getting through."

Acting Assistant Chief Constable, Julian Kirby said: "We are very disappointed that the don't drink and drive message does not seem to be getting through to a proportion of drivers on Wiltshire's roads. However, it is also true that those that are taking a risk are getting caught."