Police arrested 12 drink drivers in a four-and-a-half-hour islandwide operation last night.

On 27 March 2010 at about 11.30pm , road blocks were set up along Upper Bukit Timah Road , Woodlands Road and Woodlands Avenue 12. Subsequently, on 28 March 2010 at about 2.30 am , simultaneous road blocks were set up along Outram Road , Havelock Road, Ganges Road and Zion Road to ring-fence the cluster of entertainment outlets and drinking haunts in the vicinity.

The breathalyser test was administered to 83 motorists. 12 failed the test and were arrested for drink-driving. Of these, 9 were men and three were women, aged between 21 and 45 years old. The highest breathalyser result clocked was 96 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath and this exceeds the prescribed legal limit of 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

A total of 13 persons were also summoned for other traffic-related offences.

Police would like to remind the public that drink driving is a very serious offence and the penalties are severe. Even if the driver's alcohol content in his blood or breath does not go beyond the legal limit, he can still be charged for drink driving if he is unable to control his vehicle properly. Drink drivers, on conviction, will be disqualified from driving for at least 12 months, which would, in effect, invalidate their driving licences. In addition, first-time offenders can be fined between $1,000 and $5,000, or jailed up to six months, while repeat offenders may be punished with a maximum fine of $30,000 and a mandatory jail term of up to three years. They may also be caned up to six strokes should death or serious injury be caused.

Commander Traffic Police, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police (DAC) Christopher Ng reminded all motorists, "The consequences of drink driving are severe and you may live to regret it. Don't drive to drink and you will not drink and drive. Make it home safely."