No Decline in Drink Driving Figures.

THE number of motorists drink driving in the county remains the same as last year despite campaigns to stop it.
Gloucestershire Police carried out over 500 breath tests on drivers during their annual summer drink drive campaign and arrested 52 people.
The percentage of people who failed the test, eight per cent, was the same as last year.
Inspector of the Road Safety and Traffic Management department, Jason Keates, said: “It is encouraging that the number of drivers breaking the law hasn’t increased. However, it is disappointing that we haven’t seen a reduction and that there are still people who insist on risking their lives and the lives of others by drinking and driving.
“We would like to reassure the community that our work doesn’t end when the campaign does and we will continue to be vigilant in bringing offenders to justice and keeping the county’s roads safe.”
The Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership, which includes Gloucestershire Police, launched its summer campaign on June 1 to appeal to drivers to make proper plans for getting home safely if they had been out socialising, particularly after watching the football in pubs and clubs.
The campaign ran until the beginning of July and during the month officers around the county carried out breath tests on a total of 540 drivers.
Of those tested 43 either gave a positive test or refused to give a breath specimen.
The drivers arrested will now be processed through the courts and those proven to have been drink driving will have a minimum 12 month driving ban imposed on them. They will also receive a criminal record and could receive up to six months in prison and a fine of up to £5,000.
Andre Bovington, skills for life manager at Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership added: “We want people to understand that drinking affects your judgement, and if you drink and then drive you are at a greater risk of causing a collision and seriously hurting someone. It’s as simple as that.”