Recently released figures show that more than 200 people per day were arrested for drink driving in December.

The figures, gathered from police authorities across England and Wales, show that in total 6,613 people failed tests for driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  According to police, the total is lower than was recorded in 2009 due to adverse weather which resulted in fewer motorists heading out. Over the festive period, police tested some 170,000 drivers, down from 2009’s total of 223,000 due to wintry driving conditions.

Association of Chief Police Officers spokesman Chief Constable Mick Giannasi said that lives were still being put at risk last month despite the coldest conditions seen during the month of December in more than 100 years. He said that such drivers weren’t only ‘socially irresponsible’ but those who were caught would have to face harsh consequences including driving bans, lost jobs and livelihoods and even imprisonment in some cases.

The figures, which were obtained in the month-long drink driving police programme ending on the 1st of January, also showed that around 7% of those tested following collisions were subsequently arrested for drink or drug driving.

Police currently utilise a ‘field impairment test’ to determine if a motorist is driving whilst under the influence of drugs. However, the Home Office is currently seeking some sort of portable drug testing machines for police patrol cars.