The road accident that killed national footballer Randy Swan would have been "less severe" had he been wearing a seat-belt, Police believe.

Speaking at a joint conference yesterday between the Road Safety Council, Police and the National Drug Commission (NDC), Insp. Chris Spencer said he did not know whether Swan, who died on Tuesday from brain damage, was wearing his seatbelt.

But he added: "There are instances, and numerous incidents, on the record, where obvious injury could have been prevented by a seat belt."

Insp. Spencer said "the matter is being investigated," and he would have to look at the medical report to confirm if Mr. Swan had been wearing a seatbelt.

"When we had a resistance to the seatbelt law, it was being misconceived," he said. "People said the speed limit was only 35 kph, but we know that not everyone is driving at 35 kph. Seatbelts are for sudden stops not for driving through rush hour at less than 25 kph".

"What we have here is a very unfortunate incident, when during the accident, it would have been in (Mr. Swan's) interest to wear a seat-belt," he said.

And he warned Christmas revellers who drink and drive that Police would hunt them on the roads through increased patrols. "The Police will be stepping up patrols over the next couple of days to address the inevitable likelihood of drinking and driving," he said. "Unfortunately, it is a part of our heritage and past-times and will be on the increase in this time of year."

He said statistics supported this conclusion and as a result more manpower was going to be put in this area.

"Be warned," he said. "In the past, some have heeded this warning, so I will warn you again. If you intend to drive drunk there is every likelihood you will be arrested."

He also told potential drunk drivers they would be stopped and asked to take a breathalyser.

"If you fail it, you will be incarcerated for a period of time," he said. "You will have to appear before a magistrate and if found guilty, will be fined and be disqualified from driving for a year.

"If you want to spend Christmas in a cell, I won't discourage you, but be advised. we will be taking this very seriously this year. We know through the statistics that serious injury collisions are either speed or drunk driving related. Some are both. It is in (the Police's) interests to ensure everyone is safe and avoids injuring themselves or others.

Road Safety officer Roxanne Christopher said there had been seven arrests for drunk driving last weekend.

"This is extremely high, but it gives an inkling of how many are consuming (alcohol) this holiday". And to assist designated drivers to be more recognisable, neon anti-drinking and driving necklaces would be distributed for sober drivers to wear in pubs. The necklaces would ask: "RUOK2DRIVE?"

She said her Christmas wish was for there to be "zero road fatalities for 2005" and Insp. Spencer agreed: "Zero road fatalities will remain my wish," he said. "When it happens it will be the first time in recorded history. That will be a nice present for us all."

Ms Christopher said "five out of the seven" road fatalities for 2004 were "attributed to speed or alcohol, or both".

She said college kids come back to the Island at Christmas. But in order to prevent underage drinking in pubs, the NDC had a programme called "TIPS, that provided training for restaurant employees and bartenders to serve alcohol responsibly".

She referred to an article in The Royal Gazette this summer when 16-year-old reporter Sharla Bean purchased copious amounts of booze. "Work needs to be done address this," she said. "It is a big social problem".

Insp. Spencer said Police did have the "power of arrest" to those selling liquor to minors and getting caught would "jeopardise the establishment's relicensing", he said.