By Juliette MaxamPOLICE have voiced their disappointment after a rise in the number of motorists caught drink-driving this summer.Traffic police carried out 3,334 roadside breathalyser tests on motorists in Essex throughout August, with 138 men and women (4.

By Juliette Maxam

POLICE have voiced their disappointment after a rise in the number of motorists caught drink-driving this summer.

Traffic police carried out 3,334 roadside breathalyser tests on motorists in Essex throughout August, with 138 men and women (4.2%) arrested for drink-driving while under the influence of alcohol.

This compares with 2,114 motorists stopped in the same month last year and 85 arrested (4%).

Sgt Bob Beckwith, of Essex Police, said: “Although the number of arrests may seem relatively low to some people, we are still prosecuting a similar number of drivers each and every year.

“It is this consistent, persistent faction of motorists who we are aiming to rid the roads of.

“It does amaze me, though, how and why people still persist in breaking the law - a piece of legislation which has been around for decades and one which is continuously highlighted by way of numerous publicity campaigns both here in Essex and nationwide.”

During the campaign, Stanway traffic police stopped 560 motorists stopped, of whom 19 provided a positive breath test, Chelmsford traffic police breathalysed 462 motorists, of whom 22 provided a positive specimen, and Bocking traffic police stopped 349 motorists, of whom nine provided a positive breath test.

An Essex Police spokesman said there is a persistent drink-drive rate of between 3.5% and 4.5% of motorists.

All the tests in the August clampdown were carried out on motorists either suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs or who had committed minor driving offences or had been involved in a crash.

If a motorist is convicted of drink-driving, they can face imprisonment and the loss of their licence.

juliette.maxam@eadt.co.uk