22st January 2009

CREE WELCOMES DROP IN WINTER DRINK DRIVE FIGURES IN NORTH DOWN

UUP Policing Board Member and North Down MLA Leslie Cree has welcomed the recent publication of the winter drink drive figures which show a 24% drop in the number of motorists detected for drink-driving.

The PSNI performed 5,500 roadside tests during the anti-drink festive campaign, of these 477 motorists were caught drink driving. In comparison to 2007/2008, 114 additional breath tests were performed by police officers during this campaign. Despite the increase in testing the detection rate was 152 less than last year.

Mr. Cree added, "North Down has seen a reduction in drink driving offences from 82 (2007/08) to 60. I welcome these figures. They suggest that efforts to educate motorists on the dangers of drink driving are succeeding – that people are taking the message seriously and driving responsibly. I commend those motorists who obey the law and their conscience and so refrain from drink driving."

"Whilst I welcome the decrease in detections, the fact that a total 477 motorists across Northern Ireland were caught drink driving is simply unacceptable. It is outrageous that there are still motorists driving on our roads today who believe that they are above the law. This cavalier attitude can potentially result in motorists maiming or killing themselves, their passengers and fellow road-users."

"I would like to praise the work of our police officers who carried out these roadside tests. It is without doubt that lives have been saved and families spared from grieving loved ones in the festive period as a result of those caught drink driving.

"I appeal to all motorists to drive responsibly throughout the year and hope that we will continue to see a decrease in motorists driving under the influence of alcohol."

‘ENDS…"