3,000 + caught drink driving in NI every year

Over 3,000 drivers are caught drink driving in Northern Ireland every year, according to the PSNI.

They revealed the figures to Downtown/Cool FM, as they launched their winter campaign.

During the same period last year, they arrested 322 people who were over the legal drink drive limit.

One of those caught was four times over the limit.

During last year’s operation, 11,500 people were given preliminary roadside breath tests - they aged from 14 to 83.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd says: “I have no sympathy for the people we detected last year who found it difficult, embarrassing or shameful to explain to their family, friends or work colleagues that they had been caught drink or drug driving and were likely to receive a driving ban.

“My sympathy is with those families, friends and communities across Northern Ireland who have been forced to deal with the death or serious injury of a loved one, because someone selfishly thought it acceptable to drive while under the influence. Whether that was after one drink, a night out, or getting behind the wheel the morning after.

“If you take the unacceptable risk of driving after drinking or taking drugs, you can expect to be detected by police. You can expect to be prosecuted and lose your driving license. If you cause a collision in which someone is killed or seriously injured, you can expect a custodial sentence.

“The stark reality is that so far this year, 47 families across Northern Ireland are coping with the death of loved one because of a road traffic collision. Many others are recovering from serious and life changing injuries. As a result, there are drivers having to face the fact that their actions have caused a fatal collision."

Over the coming weeks, targeted operations will run day and night, and Police will coordinate road safety operations in border counties with colleagues from An Garda Síochána Traffic Corp.

Assistant Chief Constable Todd continued: “It’s disappointing that despite our repeated and well publicised warnings, a minority of people continue to disregard the safety of themselves and others by taking the shameful and incredibly dangerous risk of driving after drinking or taking drugs.”

Our message is very simple. Never EVER drink and drive. Just one drink can impair decision making. Just one drink can cause a collision. Just one drink could kill."