Festive drinks testing snared 200 motorists

Officers carried out 17,400 tests throughout the month of December with 202 people, or 1.2 per cent, failing the test and 19 people, refusing to provide a specimen.

During the Christmas 2012 campaign, 18,964 tests were administered with 281 people, or 1.5 per cent, failing the test or refusing to provide a specimen.

In Western division - the area that covers Blackpool–2,144 people were breathalysed in December.

Of those 98.7 per cent passed the test and just 27 people failed or refused to provide a sample.

Chief Insp Debbie Howard (pictured) said: “It is pleasing to see the number of people drink driving has reduced.

“221 people is still too many though. We are not complacent and will continue to carry out regular enforcement.”

Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw, added: “People who choose to drink and drive are not only putting their own lives in serious danger, they are risking the lives of everyone around them.

“I saw first-hand in Blackpool the effort which goes into the drink drive operation.

“I am fully behind the Constabulary’s ongoing efforts to target those who put lives at risk on our roads.”

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