Slight rise in breath tests conducted by police, latest figures show

Sixteen per cent of breath tests were positive or refused, down slightly from 17 per cent in the year ending December 2022, according to latest Home Office figures.

As in previous years, more breath tests were undertaken in December than any other month, coinciding with police drink and drug-driving campaigns

“Whilst we are pleased to note the increase, testing is still significantly lower than it should be,” said Hunter Abbott, managing director of personal breathalyser firm AlcoSense.

“Fifteen years ago 647,380 breath tests were conducted.

“But despite the relatively low number of tests, it’s still a shocking fact that nearly 45,000 motorists were found to be over the legal limit (or refused to provide a sample).

“Today’s report also warns drivers they are far more likely to be breathalysed over the Christmas period than in other months.

“In December last year nearly 50,000 breath tests were carried out, compared with the monthly average of just over 20,000.”

The latest Department for Transport figures show 300 deaths on Britain’s roads in 2022 where a motorist was over the drink-drive limit – an increase of 15 per cent on the previous year and the highest since 2009.

There were 6,800 casualties in drink-drive accidents, with drunk drivers accounting for 17 per cent of road deaths.

“Testing levels in England and Wales lag way behind other European countries – just five breath tests per 1,000 inhabitants,” adds Hunter Abbott.

“In Ireland the figure is 18 per 1,000 population, while in France it’s 109.

“Expenditure on the Government’s THINK! drink-drive campaign has also more than halved – from £1.1 million in 2022/23 to just over £500,000 in 2023/24.”

He said research shows that, at the current drink-drive limit in England and Wales, you are 13 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than when sober.