A TOTAL of 67 drivers were arrested in the Christmas-New Year drink-drive crackdown, Gloucestershire Police have reported.

Between December 1 and January 1, 1,636 breath tests were carried out.

This meant a four per cent arrest rate – the same as during the previous year's campaign, when there were 1,367 breath tests leading on to 52 arrests.

Inspector Jason Keates, of the Constabulary's Roads Policing Unit, said: "While we have made more arrests during the latest campaign, the arrest rate remains the same, which is heartening in some ways.

"However, the fact is there were still 67 people prepared to risk their lives and the lives of others through driving while under the influence of alcohol.

"It's a shameful thing to do at any time of year, and particularly during a time when people are supposed to be showing goodwill and enjoying the festivities.

"Now, all of those arrested are dealing with the consequences of their actions. All of them will have either lost, or will soon lose, their driving licences, they may lose their jobs and even face a relationship breakdown.

"I wonder if they now think it was worthwhile. I hope others will take what has happened to those 67 as a warning because, although that particular campaign is over, our efforts on combating drink driving will continue. We conduct breath tests every day, all over the county, so it's never worth the risk."

Garry Handley, driver training manager with the Gloucestershire Road Safety Partner­ship, said: "I expect that many of the motorists who will be prosecuted for drinking and driving may well not have set out to deliberately break the law, rather they took a gamble that the amount they had drunk would be below the legal limit.

"Only when they were faced with the police breathalyser at the side of the road did they discover whether or not they had got it right or wrong, and now they will have to pay the personal and social consequences of that choice.

"The limit is very clear when referred to in court, but in practice, it is not possible to translate the amount of alcohol a person can drink.

"The message to drivers is simple, avoid drinking any alcohol if they are going to drive and if they are drinking the night before, please allow at least one hour for every unit of alcohol to leave the body before they start to drive.

"Please don't forget that any amount of alcohol will impair driving ability and increase the risk of a collision, so make your New Year resolution to always adopt a 'zero limit' if you are driving."