
Police in the UK made "major progress" in the battle against drink-drivers during Christmas 2007, according to the Royal Society of the Protection of Accidents (Rospa).
Figures from the Association of Chief Police Officers show that there was a 20 per cent reduction in the number of drivers who failed breath tests over the recently-passed festive period.
The organisation states that the number of drivers who failed or refused a breath test at Christmastime dropped from 9,658 in 2006 to 7,774 in 2007.
Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at Rospa, said: "Although this still means around 250 people a day were caught drinking and driving during December, the police are to be congratulated on the major progress made on the previous year."
This research shows "drink-driving is not inevitable" and can be reduced if everyone concerned takes the correct measures, he added.
A number of campaigns went ahead in December to convince people not to drive while under the influence of alcohol, including the Department for Transport’s Think! Christmas Drink Drive initiative.