MORE than a dozen motorists stopped by the police on Christmas Eve passed breathalyser tests, giving road traffic authorities hope that their campaign against drunk driving over the holiday season is having some effect.

“We carried out breathalyser tests on more than 12 persons in the general New Kingston area Monday night and in each case, the cars had a designated driver who was not driving under the influence of alcohol,” a traffic cop told the Jamaica Observer.

“The persons tested were going home from clubs,” added the cop, who asked not to be named as she was not authorised to speak to the media.

Last week, Senior Superintendent Radcliffe Lewis, head of the Police Traffic Department, told the Observer that the police would be out in force over the holiday season in an effort to keep road fatalities AT a minimum.

“The holidays are here, police will be stepping up their clampdown on all those motorists who are planning to go to parties and drink, and to others who feel that they do not have to follow rules and regulation,” said Lewis.

He was supported by Detective Inspector Collin Milanese of the Traffic Department who said the police “will be out on the road like never before” over the holiday period.

Last week as well, JIS News reported National Road Safety Council Executive Director Paula Fletcher as saying that the council will be pulling out all stops to catch offenders before they do harm to themselves or others.

“We want to send a message to motorists that if they drink and drive, or do not drive within the required speed limit, they will be prosecuted severely,” she said.