There was a disappointing increase in the festive drink-drive figures in the Dyfed-Powys Police area, it was revealed last week.

From December 18, 2002 to January 2, 2003, the force participated in the national Christmas Drinking and Driving Campaign in line with the Government's directive on targeting those individuals who drink and drive.

The results were as follows (unless otherwise indicated, the figures for 2001/2002 are provided in brackets):

A total of 1,496 (1681) persons were breathalised during the campaign.

Fifty-five (44) were positive; this represents 3.6% of the total persons breathalised and an increase of 1% on last year's figures (2.6%).

Of those persons breathalised, 160 (159) were as a result of collisions attended by the police during this period.

Sixteen (10) of these provided samples that were either over the prescribed limit or unsatisfactory. These figures equate to just over 10% compared to 6% last year.

During the period of the campaign, the police attended 22 collisions that resulted in injury to any person. This compared to 52 for the same period last year and represented a decrease of some 30 collisions.

"Less people were involved in an injury collision over the campaign period as compared to the same period last year," said road safety officer Bob Parkes. "However, more disappointingly, this decrease in injury collisions must be offset against the increase in those persons who provided a positive or unsatisfactory sample (from 6% to 10%) following these injury collisions.

"A minority continue to act irresponsibly and continue to disregard the law by drinking and driving," he remarked. "Not only do they put themselves in danger, but also through their actions other innocent road users are sometimes killed, injured or severely traumatised through an individual's irresponsibility.

"The data shows that Dyfed-Powys Police's commitment to road safety during the holiday period has not diminished. Those who drink and drive should be under no illusion as to the extent of the police commitment to detecting and prosecuting drink drivers. If you have a collision at any time during the year you will be breath tested by the police.

"The public themselves play an important part in this process by signalling their intolerance of drinking and driving to friends and relatives and reporting offenders to the police", added Mr. Parkes. "Our message continues to be 'do not drink and drive.'"