Young drivers are still not heeding the warnings

10:20am Friday 21st December 2007

DRIVERS aged under-25 are failing to heed warnings not to drink and drive in the run up to Christmas and are instead putting themselves and other motorists at risk.

A total of 140 drivers were found to be driving with excess alcohol after three weeks of Avon and Somerset Police's drink drive crackdown. Last year 167 drivers were arrested over the same period.

So far the campaign has seen around 7,500 drivers stopped across the force area.

In Bristol 43 motorists were arrested, 18 in South Gloucestershire, 20 in Bath and North East Somerset, 25 in North Somerset, 20 in Somerset West and 14 in the Somerset East area which includes Yeovil, Crewkerne, Chard and Ilminster.

Those arrested now face a criminal record, a 12-month minimum driving ban and 11 year wait for a clean licence.

At the launch of this year's campaign police predicted that young men would make up the bulk of drink drive offenders and the release of today's figures proves just that with 52 being aged under-25 - equating to almost 40 per cent.

Police are urging people to report drink drivers by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. Last year officers were able to make further arrests after acting on intelligence from concerned members of the public who witnessed people getting behind the wheel in an unfit state.

Supt Andy Pullan, in charge of the force's road policing unit, said: "A really important part of this campaign is our appeal to members of the public to do their bit by telling us about people they suspect regularly or intend to drink and drive."