DRINK drivers who take the wheel over the festive period are moments away from causing a lifetime of misery, police have warned.

This year’s Christmas campaign in Gloucestershire - run in conjunction with the county’s Road Safety Partnership – is targeting not only drink-drivers, but motorists under the influence of drugs The initiative begins today and will last until January 1.

Known offenders will find themselves under increased scrutiny by officers who will also be monitoring drinking-driving hotspots.

Last Christmas, every 20 minutes, a motorist was breath tested in Gloucestershire.

Police say the “none for the road” message is working in the county, with numbers of drink-drive arrests during the period falling in recent years.

The December 2008 to January 2009 campaign saw 90 arrests, while the last year’s campaign saw a drop in the number of arrests to 70.

Nineteen of those arrested last year were among the 385 people breath-tested at the scene of road traffic collisions.

There were also 33 arrests in the under-25 category, out of 662 breath tests conducted within that age group.

Nationally, fatalities resulting from drink and drive collisions fell by five per cent from 400 in 2008 to 380 in 2009, whilst seriously injured casualties fell by nine per cent from 1,620 to 1,480.

Inspector Keith Fagan, of Gloucestershire Constabulary's Road Safety and Traffic Management Department, said: “It is encouraging that Gloucestershire drivers are getting wiser about drink-diving and its dire consequences. However, we would still like to see a further drop in the numbers of younger drink-drivers.

“It only takes one person to get behind the wheel intoxicated to ruin not just Christmas but a lifetime for the family of a drink drive victim.

“Anybody who suspects someone of driving under the influence of drink or drugs is asked to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. It simply isn’t worth taking the risk this Christmas.”

For more tips on staying safe in the roads this Christmas visit www.whyriskit.org.uk