THE NUMBER OF drink drivers caught locally over the Christmas period has increased by a colossal 85% on last year.
Between November 28, 2015 and January 3, 2016 a total of 26 people were caught drink driving in the Fermanagh and Omagh area, an increase of 12 on the previous year.
PSNI inspector Roy Robinson said he was at a loss to explain the surge in the number of arrests.
“Why anyone would want to do this when we have so many taxis around, there’s no call for it. People like that they’re jeopardising their livelihood and their future and if they kill somebody they’re going to end up in jail doing a long, long time. Especially when it’s exacerbated by drink. The court will certainly come down really firm on anyone who is involved in an accident in which someone is killed and drink is involved.”
Mr Robinson said the increase of 85.7% on last year was “concerning”.
“It’s difficult enough to drive on the roads with people who are sober, but people who get behind the wheel after drinking, it’s totally irresponsible that anyone would get behind the wheel to drive. They’re putting other people’s lives at risk as well as their own and passengers. Passengers should not be getting into any vehicle with someone who has been drinking. They should be taking the keys off them and getting a taxi. There’s so much to lose.”
In Fermanagh the court heard last week last how one 46-year-old female driver was caught in Irvinestown on December 17, 2015 almost four times over the limit. The woman gave an evidential reading of 131mg per 100ml of breath, 96 mg over the legal limit. She was disqualified from driving for two years and fined £300.
In total across the North 396 drivers and motorcyclists were arrested for drink driving during the Police winter drink drive operation which ran between 27 November 2015 and 2 January 2016, with an increase of 40% overall on last year.
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