Christmas drink and drug driving arrests in Derry/Strabane dropped by 43% year-on-year

New police figures show the number of arrests fell by 43 per cent year-on-year.

Across the North nine arrests were made each day during the PSNI’s winter anti-drink/drug drive campaign, which ran from December 1, 2025 to January 1, this year.

During this period, 288 arrests were made for drink/drug driving, compared to 300 during last year’s campaign. The youngest person arrested on suspicion of drink and/or drug driving was 14 years of age and the oldest 82 years of age. The highest detection was 172μg/100ml almost 5 times the legal limit of 35μg/100ml.

Initial figures show there were around 5,200 preliminary breath tests conducted throughout the campaign.

During the same campaign, preliminary figures show that almost 5,700 excess speed offences were detected by the Road Safety Partnership and the PSNI, while police officers recorded a further 35 for not wearing a seatbelt and 75 offences of using a mobile phone while driving.

“When we launched our winter anti-drink and drug drive operation, we appealed directly to drivers not to take any risks by drinking or taking drugs and driving, and to pay particular attention to road safety,” says Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson.

“Despite our repeated appeals, and road safety efforts, the level of detections are shocking. All of these drivers made a conscious decision to drive in the way they did. Their selfish and reckless actions placed themselves, their passengers and all other road users in danger.”

In 2025, 56 people died the roads in the North. None of those deaths occurred in Derry and Strabane although there were bereavements locally with seven deaths in the Causeway Coast and Glens policing area including in Dungiven and Limavady.

And to date, this year, four people have died on roads in the North.

“These are more than statistics,” says Chief Superintendent Donaldson. "These deaths are catastrophic, devastating losses for loved ones left behind, for their friends and communities.

"Our roads are busy places and all road users and motorists share the responsibility for road safety. Poor driving, bad decisions behind the wheel – it’s all preventable.

"My appeal to everyone is before you start your road journey, take a moment to think about the responsibility you have driving. Think about your safety, that of your passengers and of all other roads users.

“Slow down, stay off your phone when you’re driving, don’t get careless, always wear your seat belt and never drive after drinking alcohol or taking drugs.

"Driving requires 100 percent of your attention and focus, and all of us can and must pay particular attention to road safety to reduce the number of people injured and killed on our roads.”

While males accounted for the majority (78.8 per cent) of those arrested for drink/drug driving offences throughout the 2025/26 campaign, there were 24 more females arrested than in 2024/25 (61 compared to 37).