ACCIDENT campaigners today called for the drink-drive limit to be reduced after nearly 200 boozy motorists were caught on Hampshire's roads over Christmas.

Figures released by Hampshire police showed 197 drink-drivers were arrested during the force's two-week Christmas crackdown - an average of 12 every day.

As reported in yesterday's Daily Echo, the total is higher than the previous two years, and nearly half of those caught were found to be under the age of 30.

Hampshire police described the figures as "disturbing", suggesting that motorists were still not taking notice of high-profile anti-drink-driving media campaigns.

Now the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has warned the problem will continue to grow unless the current alcohol limit is reduced.

Kevin Clinton, RoSPA's head of road safety, said: "The proportion of people testing positive over the Christmas and new year period is now back to what it was six years ago and the number of people killed in drink-drive accidents annually has also increased.

"There will be no improvement in this dreadful situation unless the government accepts that the drink-drive limit should be lowered from 80mg to 50mg and the police are given powers to breath test motorists anywhere and at anytime.

"People are dying needlessly and we must do something to kick-start the campaign again."

The UK remains one of only four countries out of 15 in the EU with an alcohol level above 50mg.

Across the country, nearly nine per cent of drivers tested after Christmas collisions failed a breath test.

In Hampshire, the figure was below average at 7.8 per cent - but was still considerably up on the previous year's figure of 4.85 per cent.

Sgt Steve Wakeford, Hampshire police's casualty reduction manager, said: "What's worrying now is that it appears drink-driving is an increasing trend.

"Similarly, what is just as worrying is that the highest percentage of people arrested were in the 16 to 24 age bracket, and overall 46 per cent of offenders were under 30 years old."