INCIDENTS of drinking and driving rocketed during the New Year period as police tackled reckless motorists who may risk prison.

Police found nearly four times as many motorists involved in accidents to be over the legal drink-drive limit during the festive season, in comparison to the previous year's season.

In Buckinghamshire, 25 per cent of motorists who were stopped provided a positive alcohol breath test, compared to only seven per cent last year.

Superintendent Norman Bartlett, who heads the Thames Valley Traffic Department, said: "It really makes you wonder why people take the risk of drinking and driving."

However, the number of injury accidents in the region has gone down by 15 per cent when compared with the same period last year.

Supt Bartlett said: "Thanks to our targeted, intelligence-led approach we are catching a much higher proportion of drink drivers.

"Our discretionary approach means we only conduct roadside tests when we suspect someone has been drinking and this is reflected in the figures.

"I think our officers have done a thorough job in catching those people who thought they were going to get away with it. These results prove that if you choose to drink and drive we will catch you.

"They also prove how many drivers involved in collisions have been drinking."

All drivers who provide positive breath tests, refused to provide, or failed to provide, face losing their licence for at least 12 months. They could also go to prison for six-months, pay a fine of up to £5,000, and 15 per cent of them could lose their jpbs.