Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
We’ve stopped drivers so drunk they can’t talk
Boozing motorists warned by PSNI
DRINK or drugs were responsible for a quarter of fatal collisions in Northern Ireland last year, police have revealed.
Assistant chief constable Barbara Gray said some drivers stopped by cops were so drunk they could barely talk.
The PSNI’S annual winter drink-drive clampdown which will feature random breath tests at vehicle checkpoints was launched yesterday.
ACC Gray added: “During last year’s operation we carried out over 12,600 preliminary breath tests at the roadside.
“At one end of the spectrum we stopped drivers who were so drunk they could barely talk, never mind drive.
“At the other we detected some drivers who had gone out socialising and not intended to drive, but their circumstances changed and they decided to take a risk.”
Statistics showed 24.6% of fatal collisions in Northern Ireland last year were attributed to a principal cause related to “drink/drugs – driver/rider”.
It was the highest level recorded in the past five years.
ACC Gray warned: “Just one drink can impair your decision-making.
“Just one drink can cause a collision. Just one drink could kill.”
She said vehicle checkpoints will be set up across the country as a visible, physical deterrent, adding: “We are determined to catch those people who take life-threatening, unacceptable, and simply stupid risks.”