Ten times more suspected drink-drivers were arrested in a weekend road-policing operation across the North than last year's daily average, it was disclosed today.
In a major operation lasting under 24 hours 71 people were arrested for being over the legal limit.
Arrests for drink-driving ran at seven a day 12 months ago.
The huge crackdown came when the Police Service of Northen Ireland mounted two separate eight-hour campaigns throughout the six counties in a bid to cut the growing death toll on the roads.
Up to last night, 27 people had been killed in traffic accidents in Northern Ireland this year, compared with 16 for the same period last year.
In the first operation staged on Friday night, police made 37 arrests for drink-driving related offences. Two people were also stopped for driving away and one person was arrested on suspicion of drug offences.
On Saturday another 34 drink-driving arrests were made and one for drugs. Police patrols had been ordered to monitor all roads closely, especially notorious accident black-spots.
Checks were also made on the tyres and seat-belts of vehicles stopped.
PA