The proportion of those failing a breath test has not fallen significantly, figures from the latest police drink and drug campaign and enforcement drive show.
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) announced that 4,857 (5.8%) of the 83,224 drivers tested during the month long campaign in June 2012 tested positive, refused or failed a breath test. Although a slight improvement on the 6% rate the previous year, ACPO said they are "disappointed" that a small proportion are refusing to the get the message about the dangers of drink and drug driving.
Although drink driving levels are reported to have fallen significantly since the 1970s, the figures could be evidence of a resilient rate of drink driving that will be much harder to reduce. The figures show there are more under 25’s drink driving than over 25’s: 6.7% compared with 5.5%. Regional variations and trends are also evident - in the West Midlands an increase of 18.7% in the number of drivers who tested positive or failed the breath test was recorded against the previous year.
Last year it was announced the legal drink-drive limit would remain at 80mg per 100ml of blood despite an independent report calling for it to be reduced to bring it in line wth most European countries. Instead the Government said it would focus on "improving enforcement and education to tackle the drink and drug drivers who put lives at risk."
See here for the Think! road safety website, including facts and advice on drink-driving.
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