Brake and RoSPA have reacted quite differently to the Xmas 2013 drink drive figures published last week by ACPO.
In its press release, RoSPA expressed its disappointment that on average each day over the festive period 200 drivers were arrested for drink driving offences.
RoSPA also pointed out that on the drug driving front, at 28% the proportion of those arrested following a field impairment test increased in 2012.
Kevin Clinton, RoSPA’s head of road safety, said: “While it is good news that more tests were carried out and the proportion of drink drivers was lower than the previous Christmas, it is worrying that motorists are still choosing to get behind the wheel while over the limit.
“Ministers in Scotland and Northern Ireland have already decided to lower the drink-drive limit from 80mg to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, and RoSPA would like the Government to follow suit so there would be the same lower limit across the whole of the UK.”
Meanwhile, Brake praised police for what it described as “their increased efforts to catch drink and drug drivers over the festive period” and welcomed the news that arrests were down while the number of breath-tests was up.
However, Brake went on to repeat its call for a “zero tolerance” drink drive limit of 20mg per 100 ml blood.
Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive, Brake, said: "It is encouraging to see an increase in vital drink drive enforcement over the festive period and fewer arrests.
“The police do great work catching these irresponsible drivers, but the government needs to give them the backing they need to do their job, by making traffic policing a national priority and adopting a zero tolerance limit."
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