Drink-drive figures cut (From Penarth Times)

Drink-drive figures cut

VALE motorists are getting the message on drink-driving.

A major crackdown on drivers who get behind the wheel after drinking has shown that the Vale has proportionately fewer offenders than the rest of South Wales - although there is still room for improvement.

Over the festive period, Vale police targeted more than 1,000 cars in their campaign to cut road deaths caused by people driving under the influence of alcohol.

Our division was the busiest of seven areas, with officers testing 1,040 road users between December 1, 2004 and January 2, 2005.

But despite testing the highest number of drivers, the Vale had one of the lowest numbers of positive results out of the seven areas - with 25 drivers over the drink-drive limit. That is roughly one positive test for every 41 people checked.

By comparison in Cardiff, where 601 drivers were stopped, 46 were found to be over the legal limit - roughly one positive test per 13 people stopped.

Vale Chief Superintendant Josh Jones said: "The officers in the Vale of Glamorgan are extremely hard-working, and take national campaigns like this one very seriously.

"That is why so many people were tested over the festive period.

"The reactions from the motorists were good.

"People understood why they were being tested and supported the campaign, saying they felt safer knowing we were checking drivers."

The national campaign, run by police in conjunction with the National Assembly Government, saw a total of 180 drivers testing positive out of 3,142 stopped in South Wales during December.

* Four of the drivers who were over the limit were under the age of 17.

* Sixty four were 18 to 24

* Eighty one were aged between 25 and 45.

* Twenty three were aged 45 to 59.

* Eight drivers were over 60.

Graham Davies, Chief Superintendent at South Wales Police's Operational Support Division said: "Many of those arrested and charged have already appeared before the courts and have been taken off our roads, making them safer.

"It is unacceptable that some individuals still choose to ignore the message and act without consideration for their own safety and that of others.