LAMENTABLE excuses put forward for getting behind the wheel whilst under the influence of drink cuts no ice with the courts who express their displeasure with hefty fines and appropriate bans. But one may need to question whether even more punitive actio

LAMENTABLE excuses put forward for getting behind the wheel whilst under the influence of drink cuts no ice with the courts who express their displeasure with hefty fines and appropriate bans.

But one may need to question whether even more punitive action needs to be legislated for, following the increase in arrests over the Christmas and New Year period.

Cambs Police say they stopped 15,000 motorists over the festive period - compared to 10,000 last year- so expected an increase in the number caught.

One driver, however, on our roads with too much alcohol in their system remains one too many.

This newspaper has campaigned for motorists in Fenland to slow down and to treat our roads with the respect they deserve but even the safest of drivers are not immune to being struck by a drunken driver.

The compendium of excuses heard by our court reporter in just one day at Fenland magistrates last week often bordered on the comical, with one convicted pensioner explaining how she was now likely to buy a home breathalyser kit.

The stark truth remains that too many motorists are still prepared to take the risk.

Fenland's lack of public transport adds to the temptation but our opinion remains that if Cambs Police has to stop 30,000 motorists next year we, for one, will not be complaining.