31,617 preliminary breath tests carried out in 2024

Date published: 23 May 2025

New official statistics published 23/05/2025 by NISRA statisticians in the Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) reveal that the PSNI conducted 31,617 preliminary breath tests in 2024.

Police can require a preliminary breath test (PBT) from any person driving or attempting to drive on a road or in charge of a motor vehicle on a road OR other public place, who is:

• Involved in a Road Traffic Collision (RTC) OR
• Suspected of committing a moving traffic offence (no matter how minor) OR
• Suspected of having alcohol or a drug in their body or is under the influence of a drug.

The number of preliminary breath tests conducted by the PSNI has fluctuated throughout the ten year period between 2015 and 2024, with a low of 27,446 recorded in 2015 and a high of 43,712 recorded in 2017.

Key findings:

• In 2023/24, the number of preliminary breath tests conducted (PBTs) carried out by the PSNI increased by 1%, from 31,398 to 31,617.
• There has been an 15% increase in the number of preliminary breath tests conducted in Northern Ireland between 2015 and 2024.
• Road Traffic Collisions accounted for almost two fifths (38.6%) of why Preliminary Breath Tests were conducted in 2024.
• The proportion of positive or failed to provide PBTs in 2024 was 12.1%, which was similar to 2023 (12.0%).
• July saw the highest proportion of PBTs which were positive or failed to provide, with 16.5% (366).
• The highest proportion of positive or failed to provide PBTs was recorded on a Sunday (13.6%).
• The highest proportion of positive or failed to provide preliminary breath tests was recorded between the hours of 3am and 5.59am (23.6%).
• During 2024, almost one fifth (19.8%) of PBTs were conducted in December. This was due to the Christmas drink / drug drive campaign which ran from December 2024 to January 2025.
• In 2024, over two-fifths of PBTs were conducted between 9pm and 2.59am. 

About the publication:

The report details information on preliminary breath tests (PBTs) conducted by the Police Service Northern Ireland for 2024. 

This bulletin is an official statistics publication, it is produced on an annual basis by NISRA statisticians in the Police Service Northern Ireland. 

Further information:

For the full PDF report please visit: PBT

Publication page and associated documents and tables: Motoring Offence Statistics | PSNI