Police caught 6,600 drunk drivers in December

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Car Rental News - 20/01/2011

 

December saw more than 200 people arrested each day for driving while on drunk or on drugs.

Police say they arrested more than 200 people each day in December for driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In all, some 6,600 drivers were arrested after failing drink or drugs tests during December in England and Wales.

The total for December 2010 was lower than over the same month the year before. Police say this was because the extreme winter weather kept many people off the roads.

A total of 170,000 drivers were tested in December. This was a substantial drop from the 223,000 tested in December of 2009. Again, the poor weather was given as the reason for the drop in the number of motorists tested.

Nearly 4 per cent of those tested ended up being arrested. The percentage arrested rose slightly from 2009, but the increase was considered statistically insignificant.

Chief Constable Mick Giannasi was speaking about the policing of roads on behalf of the Association of Chief Constables. He said that people continued to put the lives of other people at risk, despite December 2010 seeing the lowest temperatures in more than 100 years.

He pointed out that the extreme weather conditions meant police reported a big drop in the number of people on the roads. This meant police could not carry out as many tests as in 2009. However, he added, 6,613 drivers still decided to risk the lives of others by driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

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