Drivers in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire are warned to expect more roadside breath tests this December than in other months.

Last December, Thames Valley Police stopped 1,666 motorists suspected of drink driving, according to a Freedom of Information request from personal breathalyser company AlcoSense.

This is significantly higher than the average of 964 breath tests conducted in other months.

Out of the motorists tested last December, 178 were found to be over the limit, representing a failure rate of more than 10 per cent.

Hunter Abbott, managing director of AlcoSense Laboratories, said: "Christmas parties and other festive celebrations mean police always ramp up roadside breath testing in December."

AlcoSense, based in Maidenhead, Berkshire, are the leading manufacturer in alcohol breath analysers.

Mr Abbott said at the current drink-drive limit in England and Wales, a driver is 13 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than when sober.

He added: "If you drink four pints of medium-strong beer or four large glasses of wine, it can take as long as 14 hours for the alcohol to clear your system.

"If you’ve been drinking in the evening, don’t drive.

"If you’re driving the next day, test yourself with a personal breathalyser to make sure you’re clear of alcohol from the night before.

"One in five drink drive convictions are in the morning."

Thames Valley Police carried out 12,274 roadside breath tests throughout 2023, far higher than any other region apart from South Wales and the Metropolitan Police area.

A total of 1,530 motorists were either positive or refused the test, meaning one in eight failed overall.

Nationally, there were 300 deaths on Britain’s roads where a motorist was over the drink-drive limit, which is the highest figure since 2009 and represents a 15 per cent increase over the previous year.

Drunk drivers account for 17 per cent of all road deaths.

The Department for Transport has estimated that the total number of people injured in drink-drive accidents was 6,800.

AlcoSense's message is clear: don't drink and drive, and if you have been drinking in the evening, ensure you're alcohol-free before getting behind the wheel the next day.

Since the company's launch in 2007, AlcoSense has more than 50 per cent of their customers from unintentially drink driving the morning after.

They have won more independent group tests and awards than competing brands in the UK for the performance for their breath analysers.