Christmas drink-driving arrests up on last year

Arrests for drink driving this Christmas rose on both sides of the border, figures show.

Arrests for drink driving this Christmas rose on both sides of the border, figures show.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) arrested 365 people for drink driving, an increase of 39 (12 per cent) on the same period last year.

The increase is most likely due to increased testing by police. During the anti drink-driving campaign from November 29th to January 2nd, 2,337 drivers were screened - a rise of over 630 on last year.

The 365 arrests include motorists who were unfit to drive or who were unable or refused to give a sample.

READ MORE

The Garda says it tested 2,718 drivers and arrested 1,108 in the four weeks from November 26th. This represents an increase of 26.6 per cent on the same period last year.

Patrick  Logue

Patrick Logue

Patrick Logue is Digital Editor of The Irish Times