Motorists to face random breath tests?
Date: 21/01/2008 11:33:17
Motorists could be set to be breathalysed randomly under new plans outlined by a parliamentary committee.
The Parliamentary Advisory Committee for Transport Safety has suggested that roadside checkpoints be established to allow for breath tests to be carried out in areas where there is concern over drink driving.
Recent statistics showed that while the number of breath tests conducted over the festive period rose by six per cent, the number of drink drivers fell by almost 2,000 compared with the same time in 2006.
According to the Daily Mail, the Department for Transport believes that this shows that increased testing deters motorists from hitting the bottle.
"This will send a message to road users that ministers are taking the issue of drink driving seriously," commented Robert Gifford, director of the committee.
In 2004, the Home Office rejected pressure from the European commission to introduce random breath testing, the BBC reports.