THE number of people detected drink-driving increased 45 per cent in the first week of a new PSNI strategy to tackle the problem, compared to the same time last year.
Figures released yesterday show that there were 74 incidents in the week beginning November 24 – the previous year there were 51 drink-driving detections.
A new anti-drink driving operation followed legislation coming into force last month that gives police the power to perform random breath tests at checkpoints across the north.
In the first three weeks of the campaign, until December 18 there was an overall increase of 1.7 per cent on the same period last year.
A total of 241 drink drivers across 667 PSNI checkpoints were stopped during this time.
These figures include motorists who were unfit to drive and also those who were unable or refused to give a sample.
Chief Inspector Diane Pennington said that while the figures show the effectiveness of the campaign, it was difficult to accept them as a success.
"We shouldn’t be detecting anyone drink driving," she said.
"It’s disappointing that despite our warnings, there are still people who completely disregard the safety of themselves and others by continuing this shameful and incredibly dangerous practice.
"Just one drink can impair ability to drive. Once again we have stopped some drivers who were so drunk, they could barely stand. This is just unacceptable behaviour."
In addition to the anti-drink driving campaign, the PSNI are also coordinating road safety operations in border counties with colleagues from the Garda Traffic Corp.
New measures to tackle drink driving were included in the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act (NI) 2016, which completed its passage through the assembly earlier this year. It is currently awaiting implementation following a consultation period which ended in May.
The act will introduce two lower drink drive limits, which will apply to beginner drivers, and removes the right for drivers to opt out of giving a blood or urine test following a breath test that is marginally over the limit. Stricter rules regarding rehabilitation courses for drink drivers are also proposed in the act.
So far this year, 66 people have lost their lives in road traffic collisions, with many more seriously injured.
Earlier this month, two young GAA players lost their lives in a two vehicle crash in Co Tyrone. Maurice McCloughan from Fintona and Killian Doherty from Drumquin, both aged 19, died in the crash on the Doogarry Road on the A5 outside Omagh. Since August, five people have died in road traffic incidents along the A5.
