407 NW booze-drivers snared last year

HUNDREDS of people were caught drink-driving in the North West last year with two booze-drivers in Londonderry and Limavady registering amongst the top ten breath alcohol readings in Northern Ireland in 2010.

By The Newsroom

Published 24th Mar 2011, 14:36 BST

Four hundred and seven booze-drivers were caught by police across G District in 2010; 136 in Foyle; 92 in Limavady; and 85 in Strabane.

Two of the worst ten offenders last year were from the North West. One driver stopped in Limavady last February failed a breath test because they gave a reading of 157 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

In March another booze-driver failed a breath test at Strand Road in Londonderry when they gave a reading of 152 micrograms per 100 millilitres. Both were over four times above the legal limit.

The police provided the information in response to a Freedom of Information request. They also revealed that across Northern Ireland 12 deaths were attributed to alcohol or drugs between January and October last year whilst 74 serious injuries were attributed to the same factor.