Fermanagh police issue drink-driving warning

Police in Fermanagh say they are working to dispel the perception that detection of drink-driving offences are only associated with Christmas.

Officers said efforts to detect and dissuade drink-driving do not relent at any time of the year revealing that six drivers were arrested in Fermanagh in August for driving whilst unfit.

This follows a period in July when seven drivers were processed for driving whilst unfit while a number of other drivers failed preliminary breath tests.

Inspector Ian Kennedy said it was particularly worrying that this number of drivers was being dealt with for the above offences.

“Drink driving has always been a contributory factor in serious or fatal collisions and, primarily in the later category, on single vehicle collisions," he said. "Drivers are under the illusion that they are safe to drive and are in fact better at driving in this state. Obviously this can never be the case and they are as much a danger to themselves as to others."

He added that the high level of police attention to the problem would continue, with focused operations to detect instances of drink-driving.

(MB/SP)