308 arrested in Northern Ireland for drink or drug driving in December

Police in Northern Ireland arrested 308 people on suspicion of drink or drug driving between 1st December 2022 and 1st January 2023, according to preliminary figures released this week.

The figures show that this is nine more than during the same period in 2021.

The PSNI said the arrests were part of its winter drink and drug driving operation, where the youngest person detected was 16 years of age and the eldest was 83 years old.

The highest detection was 157μg/100ml, which is over four times the legal limit of 35μg/100ml.

The highest number of arrests were made in Belfast (54), while Ards and North Down experienced the largest decrease in arrests when compared with the same period in 2021 (from 27 to 14).

Males accounted for over 86 per cent of arrests, while almost half of those arrested were aged between 30 and 49 years of age.

Superintendent Gary Busch said: “It is disappointing that a minority of people continue to disregard the safety of themselves and others, by taking the incredibly dangerous risk of driving after drinking or taking drugs.

“Our message is clear. Never ever drink and drive. Just one drink can impair decision making. Just one drink can cause a collision. Just one drink could kill.”