Ref. 28307-13TRAFFIC police have slammed drink drivers for ignoring warnings not to risk lives this Christmas.

Officers are arresting many more people than last year because a hard core of drinkers are refusing to moderate their behaviour.

So far 16 people have tested positive since December 18. This is already more than twice the number last year. It is an average of more than one a day.

Sgt Colin Conway said although the numbers of road accidents and breath tests given after accidents were lower so far this year, the total number of failed tests was going to be substantially higher.

"In the run up to Christmas we had a lot of drink drivers," he said. "We are disappointed."

His experiences on patrol at night reflected the increase.

And what was more worrying was that most of them were not slightly over the legal limit of 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath. Some were up to twice over the limit.

Sgt Conway predicted the figures for 16-day monitoring period would show a substantial increase on last year, which actually saw a drop in failed breath tests.

Last December's figures showed that three people out of 89 tested were over the limit. In 2001 the results were eight out of 84.

So far two people involved in accidents have tested positive, out of 54. Last year one person was positive out of 74 accidents.

The number of accidents causing injury is 16 compared to 27 in the monitoring period last year.

In Wiltshire, 197 tests have been given after accidents, with five failures and 57 of the accidents resulting in injuries since Decem-ber 18.

Figures for the total number of breath tests will be released at the end of the campaign.

Sgt Conway said: "I have statistics which show that in 1979 51 per cent of men said they had driven after drinking. In 1997 the figure was 23 per cent. So public attitudes towards drinking and driving have changed.

"But our figures are still showing an increase and my arrests show there are still a lot of people drinking and driving."

Sgt Conway said drivers appeared to think either that they wouldn't get caught or that an accident wouldn't happen to them.

They were ignoring the warnings in the Advertiser and on the radio.

Motorists found guilty of drink driving risk a six-month prison sentence or a fine of up to £5,000. They will lose their licence for at least a year.

Tina Clarke