TODAY marks the start of Gwent Police’s summer drink-drive campaign.

All four police forces in Wales run this campaign throughout the month of June, in which efforts to tackle drink-driving are stepped up, with stops and breath tests carried out across the force area.

With the weather getting warmer and people going to barbecues, weddings and parties, the summer is a time when people often drink more, so police are keen to clamp down on drink-driving and the risks it poses to people on the roads.

In last summer’s campaign Gwent Police officers carried out 4,497 breath tests – 4,263 of these were random stops and 234 were taken after crashes. A total of 69 people failed the test, refused to provide one or tested positive.

Ten of these were those breathalysed after crashing.

Police breath-tested 1,287 people under 25, 18 of whom failed the test, refused to provide one or returned a positive reading.

Of the 3,210 over 25 tested, 51 failed, refused or tested positive.

In total, 1.5 per cent of people tested last year failed, refused or tested positive.

Superintendent Jim Baker said: “We are committed to promoting and enforcing road safety in Gwent and will be patrolling the force area throughout the summer in a bid to reduce the number of motorists who decide to get behind the wheel after drinking or taking drugs.

“I would like to warn people not to give into the temptation to drink and drive after summer events such as barbecues, weddings and days out.

“Drivers need to realise that alcohol, or drugs, slowyour reactions and affect your ability to judge speed and distances. Also, passengers need to take action to stop their friends or family members getting behind the wheel after drinking. Drink-driving is simply not worth the risk.”