200 drunk and drugged drivers caught on a daily basis in Britain

More than 200 drunk and drugged drivers were caught every day by police during a Christmas campaign, figures showed yesterday.

Officers across England and Wales arrested more than 6,600 drivers, almost four per cent of all those stopped, during the month-long initiative, the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said.

Police said the coldest December since records began kept many drivers off the roads, but 6,613 people still chose to put the lives of others at risk by driving under the influence of drink and drugs.

Just 169,838 people were stopped and tested by police, with 6,613 (four per cent) found to be over the limit, failed a field impairment drugs check or refused to be tested.

An average of 207 motorists were arrested every day for breaking the law between December 1 and January 1, the figures showed.

Chief Constable Mick Giannasi, the Acpo lead for roads policing, said: “That is not only socially irresponsible, it will also have consequences for those who were caught.

“All of them now face a lengthy driving ban, some will face imprisonment and many will already have lost their jobs and their livelihoods.

“Driving under the influence of any substance, whether it is alcohol or drugs, is not acceptable.

“Worst of all it can kill, and that’s a life sentence no-one would want to live with.”

Acpo also said the figures showed that those who have been drinking and then drive were more likely to be involved in an accident.

The proportion of those arrested following a breath test after a collision rose slightly to seven per cent.

The police figures also revealed one in 20 motorists (five per cent) aged under 25 who were breath-tested were arrested, up from four per cent in 2009.