Forty-nine people were found driving drunk between January and March - one fewer than the same period last year.

They were among the 75 arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired, according to Police.

"Out of that number 49 people failed the alco-analyser test, 19 refused to take it and seven people passed the test," said Bermuda Police Service spokesman Robin Simmons.

Twenty four of those arrested came from the 22-30 age range, 16 were between 41 and 50, and 14 were over 50.

The 31-50 age group accounted for 11 arrests, while there were seven arrests among 18-21 year-olds and three among under 18s.

Most of the arrests occurred on Sundays (20), followed closely by Saturday (18) and Friday (11).

Between Monday and Thursday there were a total of 18 arrests.

In the breakdown between the sexes, 70 men were arrested for suspicion of driving while impaired between January and March. Out of that figure, 47 failed the alco-analyser test, five passed and 18 refused to take it.

Only five women were arrested - two failed, two passed and one refused to take the test.

Mr. Simmons said the mean average for the amount of alcohol in the blood was 171.38 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

The highest failure reading was 356 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood and the lowest pass reading was a zero reading of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. The legal limit is 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood.

The youngest person arrested was 16, the eldest 75.

There were 23 accidents as a result of drinking and driving.

The total number of vehicles stopped for suspicion of driving impaired was 75 - of 38 cars, 34 motorcycles, two vans and one taxi.

Last year there were 77 arrests, with 50 people failing the alco-analyser test, 22 refusing to take it and five people passing.