NCJ Number
150949
Date Published
1994
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This bulletin provides statistics on drivers in England and Wales required to take breath tests in 1993, along with data on positive tests and tests refused.
Abstract
The number of screening breath tests in England and Wales in 1993 was 599,600, 12.9 percent more than in 1992. There were 89,400 positive or refused tests, 1.8 percent greater than in 1992. Fifteen percent of all tests were positive or refused, the lowest yet recorded. In December the number of screening tests was more than double that recorded in most other months, but the proportion of tests that were positive or refused was, at 8 percent, little more than half the average for the year. Although the number of screening tests in 1993 was approximately three times as many as in 1984, the number of positive or refused tests is currently at a level comparable with 1984, despite having exceeded 100,000 between 1987 and 1990. Clearly, police are now finding much lower proportions of those they test positive (including refusal to take a screening test) than 10 years ago. Breath test data are presented for each police force area. 4 tables and 5 notes