Conviction rate for drink drivers at lowest in six years

THE conviction rate for people who tested positive for driving over the legal alcohol limit has fallen to its lowest level since 1999.

The latest annual report of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) shows just 24% of motorists, whose blood or urine tested positive in 2004, were convicted for drink driving compared to an average of 63% for the preceding five years.

A total of 834 people were convicted for drink driving in 2004, although the MBRS confirmed that 3,472 motorists who gave blood and urine samples were over the limit.