Drink-drive stops doubled in Christmas crackdown

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OVER 5,000 motorists were stopped by police in the West Midlands over Christmas - with just under one in ten testing over the legal alcohol limit.

A total of 447 people - 8.5 per cent of those tested - provided cops with a positive breath test over the festive period.

The percentage is the same as 2010, although the number of drivers tested under the force's month-long drink drive campaign more than doubled. There were also 93 fewer collisions in December than the previous year.

The campaign was supported by Aston Villa player Barry Bannan following his driving ban and fine earlier this year and the words of the mother of a drink drive victim was also used by police to get their message across.

Inspector Greg Jennings, who spearheaded the campaign, said: "These figures show how hard officers worked over the Christmas period, carrying out nearly 3,000 more breath tests this year than last.

"A large number of the tests were of drivers stopped in high profile enforcement and education operations, who voluntarily underwent the procedure when offered the chance.

"We would like to thank drivers and pedestrians for the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the many drink driving operations carried out. Their verbal support encouraged officers who were often standing on the roads for hours in unpleasant conditions.

"While we saw a slight drop in the percentage of people testing positive this year, there is still a long way to go in terms of the number of people who still see fit to drink and drive.

"We cannot stress enough the risks that people are taking when they get behind the wheel of a car having had a drink.

"We are committed to continuing throughout the year to target those people who put themselves and others at risk by driving under the influence of drink or drugs."