The four Welsh Police Forces, led by South Wales Police, in conjunction with the Welsh Assembly Government, launched the All Wales Christmas Anti Drink Drive Campaign for 2007, on Monday, December 3, at the All Nations Centre in Cardiff. The month-long campaign during the busy Christmas period saw breath tests administered across Wales with a zero-tolerance approach. Out of 19,554 breath tests administered, 587 drivers failed and were taken off the roads of Wales, a total of three per cent of the drivers tested. In Dyfed Powys, the figure was 86 positives out of 3,531 breath tests (2.4%). Dyfed Powys Police Chief Inspector Steve Matchett, of the roads policing department, said: "With the extra effort that has been put into this campaign, the four Welsh forces have seen an increase in the number of breath tests carried out and, although we have seen a slight decrease in the percentage of positive tests, it is disappointing to see that there's still a hardcore of motorists who continue to flout the law. "Dyfed Powys Police will continue to target those individuals who continue to put their lives and the lives of others at risk by drinking and driving." There were also a total of 23 arrests for driving under the influence of drugs, 10 in South Wales, seven in Gwent, four in North Wales, and two in Dyfed Powys. In comparison to last year's campaign, there were 23 more drink drivers this year and 5,360 more breath tests administered this year. However, police still remain concerned at the minority of drivers who foolishly choose to drink and drive. Many of these tests were carried out during routine roadside checks, or following road traffic collisions or from information from the public.
