POLICE running a campaign in the county against drink-driving have accused some drivers of gambling with other people's lives.

In the campaign, which began at the start of the month, officers have so far breath-tested 1,274 drivers and bike riders, and have arrested 99 people.

The campaign has involved 343 breath tests at checkpoints, where three drivers were arrested for drink-driving and one for a drug offence. Officers tested 931 people after accidents and stops by patrols, and 95 drivers failed or refused them.

Inspector Chris Charlton said: "It is deeply disappointing. Who are these people who feel they can gamble with other people's lives?

"In one sense, 99 arrests is a very small number when you consider the tens of thousands of vehicles that travel North Yorkshire's 6,000 miles of roads every day, but it is unacceptable in this day and age that there are people prepared to flout the law and, worse, take a terrible risk with their own and other people's lives.

"It is not an attitude we will tolerate, and officers are committed to continuing our high-profile, hard-line campaign."

Extra patrols will continue into the new year, as will static checks at least once a day without warning, including operations aimed at drivers over the limit the morning after.

Two video display vans are also touring the county with large screens showing tough drink-driving messages.