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| Drink driving; Thousands caught over the limit twice | Drink driving; Thousands caught over the limit twice |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| More than 8,000 motorists have been caught driving over the limit twice in the past five years, according to the DVLA. | More than 8,000 motorists have been caught driving over the limit twice in the past five years, according to the DVLA. |
| A Freedom of Information request by the Press Association showed 219,008 people were caught drink driving once in the same period. | A Freedom of Information request by the Press Association showed 219,008 people were caught drink driving once in the same period. |
| Two drivers were caught six times. | Two drivers were caught six times. |
| The AA said the numbers were "astonishing" and called for the process of returning licences to banned drivers to be reviewed. | The AA said the numbers were "astonishing" and called for the process of returning licences to banned drivers to be reviewed. |
| The association's president, Edmund King, said: "The fact that more than 8,000 drivers have been caught twice in five years is all the more astonishing when they should have been off the road for a year or more. | The association's president, Edmund King, said: "The fact that more than 8,000 drivers have been caught twice in five years is all the more astonishing when they should have been off the road for a year or more. |
| "Perhaps it is time to review some of the medical checks and rehabilitation courses before allowing these drivers back on the road." | "Perhaps it is time to review some of the medical checks and rehabilitation courses before allowing these drivers back on the road." |
| The offences took place between 2011 and 2015 when motorists were given DR10 endorsements - handed to drivers for driving or attempting to drive while above the legal alcohol limit. | The offences took place between 2011 and 2015 when motorists were given DR10 endorsements - handed to drivers for driving or attempting to drive while above the legal alcohol limit. |
| Anyone caught for the offence faces a ban of at least one year, an unlimited fine and, in the most serious cases, up to six months in prison. | Anyone caught for the offence faces a ban of at least one year, an unlimited fine and, in the most serious cases, up to six months in prison. |
| Some drivers are offered rehabilitation courses to reduce the length of their ban. | Some drivers are offered rehabilitation courses to reduce the length of their ban. |
| Numbers of drivers who received DR10 endorsements in Britain between 2011 and 2015 | Numbers of drivers who received DR10 endorsements in Britain between 2011 and 2015 |
| SOURCE: DVLA/Press Association | SOURCE: DVLA/Press Association |
| The DVLA data shows the number of drink-drive convictions has fallen in recent years, from 53,885 in 2011 to 42,587 in 2015. | The DVLA data shows the number of drink-drive convictions has fallen in recent years, from 53,885 in 2011 to 42,587 in 2015. |
| A drink-driver not deemed to be a "high risk offender" can apply to get their licence back once their ban has ended, but they have to fill out a form with questions about their health. | A drink-driver not deemed to be a "high risk offender" can apply to get their licence back once their ban has ended, but they have to fill out a form with questions about their health. |
| The DVLA said it had to issue a licence when a driver had served their disqualification period, but it would investigate and take "appropriate action" if there was any indication of "an ongoing issue with alcohol". | The DVLA said it had to issue a licence when a driver had served their disqualification period, but it would investigate and take "appropriate action" if there was any indication of "an ongoing issue with alcohol". |
| But Road safety charity Brake said the numbers showed "a worrying lack of progress in drink-drive enforcement" and called on the government to put "serious investment" into road policing and stopping "hard-core drunk drivers" getting back behind the wheel. | But Road safety charity Brake said the numbers showed "a worrying lack of progress in drink-drive enforcement" and called on the government to put "serious investment" into road policing and stopping "hard-core drunk drivers" getting back behind the wheel. |
| Christmas crime | Christmas crime |
| The AA said it had figures showing that nearly two-thirds of drink-drivers arrested in the run-up to and during the past three Christmases were at at least almost twice the alcohol limit. | The AA said it had figures showing that nearly two-thirds of drink-drivers arrested in the run-up to and during the past three Christmases were at at least almost twice the alcohol limit. |
| FoI responses from 10 police forces in England revealed that from November to December in 2013, 2014 and 2015, 64% of 5,621 drivers arrested after failing a breath test for alcohol registered at least 60 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. | FoI responses from 10 police forces in England revealed that from November to December in 2013, 2014 and 2015, 64% of 5,621 drivers arrested after failing a breath test for alcohol registered at least 60 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. |
| Mr King said: "These people knowingly got behind the wheel when drunk." | Mr King said: "These people knowingly got behind the wheel when drunk." |
| Provisional estimates from the Department for Transport showed that between 200 and 290 people were killed in drink-drive accidents on Britain's roads last year. |