Drink drive offending down
for under 25s

National figures show that, although levels of drink-driving have risen slightly in the last year, the traditionally higher-offending under-25 year old demographic has started to learn the lesson, with offending rates down marginally by 1.5%.
Responding to the figures, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for roads policing, Chief Constable Suzette Davenport, said: “I am pleased to see that our intelligence-led approach to tackling the problem of drink and drug driving is working with fewer, more concentrated tests bringing to light more offenders.
“The message that driving under the influence of drink and drugs not being worth the risk seems to at last be getting through to under-25s; we’ve seen a proportional reduction of nearly two per cent in offending on last year.
“It is frustrating that over 5000 people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland continued to ignore the common-sense advice not to drink and drive – an increase of nearly a thousand exceeding the limit/ failing to provide, on last year’s figures despite fewer tests overall being administered.   
“Officers are on the alert all year round using targeted efforts to keep our roads safer.  I urge everyone planning to go out and enjoy themselves to never ever drive under the influence, whether that night or the following morning.”
The NPCC is waiting for feedback from forces on how they are progressing with new roadside drug-testing equipment so that we can publish more detailed results on drug driving in the future.