THE results of Gloucestershire's annual drink driving campaign Eat, Think, Be Merry, are anything but jolly.

The Road Safety Partnership launched its annual winter drink drive campaign on December 2 and it will run into the New Year. The campaign hopes to get people not to drink any alcohol before driving in the Christmas season.

Despite increased roadside checks in Gloucestershire figures show there has been little road safety improvement from last year.

Last Christmas, 69 drivers out of 1,835 stopped were arrested for drink driving. With a week still to go in this year's campaign, police have already made 39 drink driving arrests since it started.

Inspector Kevin Roseblade of Gloucestershire Police said “It’s disappointing that there is a stubborn minority who refuse to heed our warnings. The dangers of drink driving and the possible implications for the driver and other road users have been clear for a long time so there really is no excuse for doing it”.

Drink driving is becoming an increasing problem in Gloucestershire with an average of three drivers failing a breath test every day. Last year, two collisions each week involved drink driving resulting in 31 fatalities and serious injuries.