About 400 drivers were stopped on Christmas Eve in roadblocks set up around the island to clamp down on drink-driving, the police said.
The strong presence of the police on the road is likely to have played a part in the fact that no serious accidents occurred, which is unusual for a night commonly cursed with crashes.
As they review their work over the Christmas weekend, the police have set their sights on New Year’s Eve, which is usually a more dangerous night to be on the road.
The police administered 14 breathalyser tests last Friday and nine drivers were found to be over the limit, meaning they will now face criminal charges.
First-time offenders face a maximum fine of €1,200, three months imprisonment and suspension of their driving licence if found guilty and repeat offenders face a €2,300 fine, a six-month prison term and withdrawal of their licence.
There were no instances where drivers refused to take a breathalyser test, which, according to changes made to the law this year, would automatically incriminate the driver, unless s/he can prove otherwise.
There was at least one case where the test was “inconclusive”, according to Assistant Police Commissioner Josie Brincat, who is leading the drive to prevent accidents over the holiday season.
While most other people were going out to party, 22 police officers were deployed on traffic duties, stationing themselves in busy roads like the Coast Road, the Regional Road, the Mrieħel Bypass and elsewhere.
The police campaign launched earlier this month promised zero tolerance to five offences: jumping red lights, over speeding, not wearing seat belts, using mobile phones while driving and, most importantly, drink-driving.
Mr Brincat promised the police would not “revert to abusive methods” to enforce the rule of law and would therefore only stop and breath test drivers who raise “reasonable suspicion” rather than stopping people randomly and inconveniencing everyone.
Suspicious drivers are generally simply asked for their licence, log books and insurance certificates. If the police then notice any of the symptoms associated with drink-driving they will ask the drivers to take the breathalyser test.
“Failure to do so will be tantamount to a crime of omission on our part. We have a duty to protect society and we have to take the bull by the horns in doing so even if it makes us unpopular with the few,” he said.
Mr Brincat thanked the media for its contribution, which he said had “left its mark”.
“Thanks to the media we have so far managed to drive home our message to drivers. However, we, as police officers, still have and will continue to play our part in enforcing rules and regulations.”
Mr Brincat said there seemed to be a “gradual and slow cultural change” in terms of drink-driving, with young people making better use of public transport such as minibuses and not-so-young people opting for taxis.
“I assure you we are not after the pound of flesh. We have very much at heart our community and the nation we serve. We want to make our roads safer even if this does not depend completely on us.”
While warning drivers the police would again be on the roads on New Year’s Eve, he augured all families would enjoy a peaceful lunch on New Year’s Day because it would have been accident free.