Motorists more likely to be breathalysed in Northamptonshire than any other county in England

Drivers in Northamptonshire are more likely to be breath-tested this December than any other county in England.

Analysis of Home Office data by AlcoSense Breathalysers shows that in December last year, Northamptonshire Police stopped 2,957 motorists suspected of drink driving.

That’s more than 11 times the number of breath tests in the quietest month, which was August.

However, maybe because of awareness of the strict law enforcement, Northamptonshire recorded the lowest percentage of motorists found to be over the limit last December – just 2% (58 drivers).

“We might be going to fewer Christmas parties this year, but several studies show that people have been drinking more alcohol during lockdown,” comments Hunter Abbott, MD of AlcoSense Laboratories.

“This increase has been driven by job uncertainty and pandemic anxiety, fuelled by the rise in at-home drinking where measures are more generous than a pub or restaurant.

“This trend makes it more likely that people may get behind the wheel and drive with alcohol still in their system the next morning. Even a small amount of alcohol slows reaction time, inhibits judgement and reduces concentration – increasing the likelihood of accidents.

“One in five drink drive convictions are in the morning. A personal breathalyser takes the guesswork out of knowing when alcohol has cleared the morning after the night before”.

Northamptonshire Police carried out 6,699 roadside breath tests throughout 2019 - of which 653 were either positive or refused.

Nationally there were 8,860 injuries last year due to a driver being over the limit, including 240 deaths.