Arrests for drink-driving have shot up, latest figures show.

Last year Police made 386 arrests compared to 285 in 1999 -- a rise thought to stem from increased patrolling.

Chief Insp. Charles Mooney said the 35 percent increase also reflected greater use of Reservists on Friday and Saturday nights.

Other alcohol-related Police statistics include increases in the number of failures, refusals to take the test, and passed tests.

The most hectic day for Police is Saturday with 89 arrests in 2000. The busiest period is between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. with 112 arrests.

Weekends account for 60 percent of impaired driving arrests.

During 2000 there were 227 failures, while 95 people refused to take the Alco-Analyser breath test and 64 people passed.

In 1999 162 failed the test, 79 refused and 36 passed.

The mean average failure rate was virtually unchanged from the year before at 172 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood compared to 1999 figures of 172.3 milligrams.

The highest failure level was at 355 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

There were 84 accidents in which motorists were found to be driving while impaired, a 15 percent increase over 1999.

More men were arrested -- 351 -- compared to 35 women. Of these, 206 men failed and 21 women. People who refuse to take the breath test are still subject to prosecution and the same one-year driving ban.

The youngest person to take the test was a 17 year-old who passed as did a 75 year-old.

Cyclists made up the bulk of the arrests at 226, while motorists came next with 141 arrests.

Five taxi drivers and 12 truck and van drivers were booked by Police. One man spent the night in jail for riding a pedal cycle while impaired.