three months on suspicion of drinking and driving with almost half failing a test, latest figures show.

The Police compiled statistics for the three months from April which showed 73 drivers were stopped, 14 more than the same time last year.

Of those stopped, 41 failed a test, 20 refused to take a test and 12 passed, the figures show.

The numbers were significantly up on the same time in 1994 when 59 motorists were stopped, 31 failed a test, 17 refused and 11 people passed.

Insp. Coglin Gibbons said: "The comparative statistics for this year and 1994 show an increase in the incidence of impaired driving which causes concern to the Police. It should also concern the motoring public.

"The Police will continue to enforce legislation prohibiting this very serious offence and we ask the public to help themselves by abstaining from drinking and driving.'' On average those who failed a test were twice the legal limit of 80 mgms per 100 mls of blood, but one person was three times the legal limit.

The youngest person arrested was aged 14 and the oldest aged 70 although those aged between 22 to 50 accounted for 55 of the people arrested.

The statistics reveal that of the 73 arrests, 22 followed accidents and the majority, or 54, of the arrests took place between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. The figures also show that the majority were arrested on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Men accounted for 67 of the 73 arrested.