Overview
- Across the past three Decembers, responding forces conducted more than 53,700 breath tests, with 5,247 drivers over the legal threshold.
- The FOI returns show 8,159 drink‑driving arrests during these periods, led by Surrey Police with 1,695.
- Lancashire carried out the most testing at 6,123 checks, while West Yorkshire recorded 787 failures from 2,387 tests.
- Staffordshire logged the highest December breath reading at 535 micrograms, reported as more than 15 times the legal limit.
- Motoring experts urged England and Wales to lower the 80mg limit and adopt clearer, stricter European‑style rules.