Drink drive figures: 352 arrested

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Limavady an intoxicated driver gave the third highest recorded breath test in the whole of Northern Ireland in 2008.

When breathalysed at Limavady PSNI station in August 2008 the driver gave a reading of 168microgrammes alcohol per 100millilitres of breath - almost five times the legal limit.

The figures released by the PSNI under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) showed that a total of 853 drivers were caught driving drunk in the wider G District area in 2008 and 2009.

Broken down by District Command Unit 352 drink-drivers were arrested in Foyle, 158 in Limavady, 165 in Strabane and 178 in Magherafelt over the two years.

A record of breath tests in 2008 showed a driver pulled over in Magherafelt also gave one of the highest readings in Northern Ireland that year with a reading of 162microgrammes/100millilitres. Last year no-one arrested in this area was listed on the ignominious index.

Between January and October 2009 the PSNI directly attributed 20 deaths and 128 serious injuries to drink or drugs driving across Northern Ireland as a whole; 15drivers or motorcyclists and five pedestrians died in the carnage.

In all 108 drivers or motorcyclists, 19 pedestrians and one passenger were seriously injured in accidents attributed to drink or drugs driving. In releasing the information the PSNI said the figures were provisional and subject to amendment.