Drink driving figure falls

22 people died in crashes over the Christmas period

A total of 326 motorists in Northern Ireland could lose their licence after being caught for drink driving offences over the Christmas period.

According to an RUC report, the figure is down by 81 on those caught driving with excess alcohol over the same period the previous year.

The figure compares favourably with the results of the drink driving campaign in the rest of the UK where there was a 7% increase in motorists caught with excessive alcohol levels.

Twenty-two people were killed in 19 road accidents in the province between November and January, with speed considered to have been a factor in at least nine incidents.

Drink is reported to have been a factor in one fatality - but analyses are awaited in a number of other cases.

According to the figures, more than one in three of drink drivers detected were men aged between 18 and 34, the target group which is the focus of a multi-million media advertising campaign.

The figures also revealed that 111 of the drink drivers were more than twice the legal limit.

One driver had five times more alcohol in his bloodstream than legally allowed while 30 had a blood/alcohol limit which was three times the legal limit.

They will faces charges ranging from being unfit to drive to being unable and/or refusing to undergo blood and breath tests.

RUC Superintendent Terry Houston said: "The RUC and all of its partners involved in road safety are determined not to let up on the message that people should never, ever drink and drive."

The drink/driving figures follows the confirmation earlier this month that 171 people were killed on Northern Ireland's roads during 2000, the highest number in almost 10 years.