POLICE in Hertfordshire have released further figures following their anti drink drive campaign over Christmas.

Twenty drivers on the county's roads failed breath tests over the holiday period, compared with just seven in 1996.

Inspector Martin Goss said: "It is very disappointing to see such a rise in the collision-related drink driving figures.

"We must remember these incidents will not only affect the offending drivers in terms of fines, disqualifications and possibly imprisonment, but they will also discover their actions may have resulted in the death or serious injuries of other road users.

"We will continue throughout the year to be ever vigilant in the prevention and detection and prosecution of drink driving offences.

"On a more positive note, it is very pleasing to see that the majority of potential drivers made other arrangements instead of driving after having a drink.

"The new way we collect our statistics will give us a more accurate means of linking drinking and driving to collisions."

In total, 167 drivers in Hertfordshire were breath tested after being involved in collisions over Christmas.

Twenty tests were positive and 78 people were injured in collisions overall.

In St Albans, 24 drivers were breath tested after being involved in collisions, with just three tests proving to be positive. A total of 11 people were injured in collisions in St Albans over Christmas.

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