Merseyside Police say their “None for the Road” campaign over the Christmas period proved to be effective with a 30% decrease in arrests for drink-driving compared to last year.

But the number of drug-drive offences rose by 40% due to increased testing under new police powers which came into force in 2015.

During the campaign which ran throughout December officers carried out 6,339 breath tests. 

They arrested 203 people for drink or drug-driving, which compares to a total of 224 arrests in the 2015 campaign.

The number of drink-drive arrests made this year was 111 - less than 2% of all people tested - and a decrease from 158 in 2015.

The figure is almost 50% lower than the 207 arrests in 2014.

However the number of drug-drive arrests was 92, an increase from 66 in 2015.

Sergeant Paul Mountford from the roads policing unit said: "I am encouraged to see that over 98% of the people tested were driving responsibly and have been adhering to our ‘None for the Road’ message in December.

“The decrease in positive tests and drink-drive arrests for a second successive year indicates that drinking and driving is becoming less and less socially acceptable.

“Drivers would appear to be more aware of the dire repercussions a conviction can have across every aspect of their lives and those of their families, which can only be a good thing for other road users across Merseyside.“

But he added: “However it is disappointing that we have seen an increase in motorists arrested for drug-driving.

“While they represent a small minority of drivers, I cannot stress enough the danger that these people present, not just to themselves, but to other road users too.

"Clearly, with enforcement and education, we need drivers to realise that the risks they are taking by driving impaired with drugs are just as serious and alcohol and ensure that our roads are as safe as possible for the vast majority of law-abiding road users."

The new law made it illegal to drive with certain drugs above specified blood levels in the body whether driving is impaired or not.

These limits are set at very low levels for eight illegal drugs, including cannabis and cocaine, and eight medicines that have been set at a higher limit.

Merseyside Police have been using roadside testing kits to trace drugs in drivers.

If the test result is positive, a blood or urine sample is taken, with no need to call a doctor to confirm the presence of a condition due to drugs.

During the campaign officers were also handing out single-use breathalysers to motorists and asking hotels to stock them in their receptions to encourage people to test themselves and consider the consequences of driving the morning after a night of drinking.

Ten percent of drink-driving arrests during the campaign occurred between the hours of 7am and 10am.

Sergeant Mountford said: "We are committed to tackling drink and drug driving throughout the year, not just during the Christmas period.

“Any driver involved in a road traffic collision or who commits a traffic offence can expect to be breathalysed at any time in the year and may be required to perform an impairment test."