A RECORD number of breath tests have seen a drop in the number of motorists getting behind the wheel after boozing, results of a festive drink-drive crackdown have revealed.

During the Christmas and New Year period, almost 200 people were arrested as part of Hampshire Constabulary’s drink-drive campaign – including an 80-year-old driver.

Officers are pleased with the 2.6 per cent drop in the number of those getting behind the wheel after having a drink but admit they are disappointed that a minority still persist at putting their lives and others at risk by driving while under the influence.

Of the 6,918 breath tests administered in December – an increase of more than 3,000 compared to 2013 – 195 people were arrested for providing a positive result or refusing to take the test – 18 fewer than the previous year.

The highest proportion of arrests were made in Southampton, where there were 34, 19 were made in Winchester and East Hants, 13 in Eastleigh and Romsey, 17 in Fareham and Gosport and 16 in the New Forest.

The oldest motorist arrested was 80 and the youngest was 17, while 161 of those arrested were men.

One driver who was stopped had been at the wheel of an articulated tanker on the M27 eastbound, at Rownhams, and could hardly stand up when officers spoke to him.

He was more than three times the drink-drive limit, was charged and appeared in court, where he was disqualified from driving for two years and ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work.

Sgt Rob Heard said: “This is just one instance where the reckless and totally irresponsible actions of a driver narrowly avoided a serious incident which could have caused many serious and fatal injuries.

“It is pleasing to see that the message is getting through with over 97 per cent of people stopped being legal to drive and a drop in the number of people over the drink-drive limit.

“We will continue to target those who drive whilst impaired to make our roads safer and to prevent the devastating consequences of fatal collisions.”

A total of 140 people were charged with an offence, 31 have been bailed and 24 will face no further action.