EVEN Father Christmas could be breathalysed, said police this week as they launched their festive blitz on drink driving.

Warwickshire's campaign for this year echoes the national campaign seen on television, promoting the message: "Drinking and driving is one Christmas tradition that all road users can do without."

No driver will be safe from the breathalyser, as the crackdown will see all drivers involved in accidents and any stopped drivers asked to take a test.

Police will also be stopping all drivers who look as if they could have been drinking.

Around 500 people a year are killed by drivers who have been drinking and 16,000 accidents are caused nationwide.

Sgt Phil Ashby of Warwickshire police pointed out that the smallest amount of alcohol could affect the ability to drive safely, as drivers are 50 times more likely to have an accident after having a drink.

"Your concentration will be affected, your ability to estimate speed and distance will be affected, as will your co-ordination and reaction time," he said.

Sgt Ashby also warned that there is a risk of being caught drink driving at all times of day, not just after pub closing time and people should be aware they may be over the limit without knowing it.

"Lots of people are caught out this time of year because of office parties, lunchtime drinking, home measures, which are often three or four times greater than pub ones, and the classic morning after the night before," he said.

"Those people who drink and drive must be either selfish enough not to care that they could kill someone's parent or child and cause untold distress or anguish, or arrogant enough to believe they will not be caught."