In intensified police surveillance of Christmas party traffic during the last two weekends, 269 drivers suspected of drunk driving were caught. 77 of these were suspected of aggravated drunk driving. The police breathalysed a total of 73,306 drivers during the two weekends.
A total of 62 wanted persons were caught and four firearms offences were reported.
The number of drunk drivers has remained at around the same level compared to the equivalent surveillance exercise last year. On average, every 273rd driver stopped by the patrols was suspected of drunk driving. Every 91st driver’s breathalyser test detected alcohol under the punishable level.
Breathalyser patrols were performed during evening and night-time ‘Christmas party’ traffic in particular.
– The police are trying to prevent crime by informing the public. This has now succeeded, given that 21 (7.2%) fewer people suspected of drunk driving were apprehended compared to the first weekend, despite the number of breathalyser tests being the same, says Chief Superintendent Heikki Kallio of the National Police Board.
Surveillance of drunk driving will continue throughout the country until the end of the Christmas season.
