Hundreds of drivers in mid-Essex will be asked this weekend to voluntarily take part in a drink drive survey and be breath tested at the same time.

It is the first time drivers in the county have been invited to participate in such a scheme.

The idea is prompted by the possible reduction of the drink drive limit and will involve traffic police officers in roadside checks.

An Essex Police spokeswoman said: "The survey will form part of a research project being carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory, TRL, to study current drink-drive behaviour.

"The survey will also evaluate alternative methods of drink-drive screening.

"The survey findings will be reported to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions which has been carrying out formal consultation into possible reduction of the drink-drive blood test limit from 80mgs to 50mgs of alcohol.

Drivers will be stopped at random and asked to participate in the voluntary survey.

An Essex Police spokeswoman warned: "If anyone is stopped and found to be over the limit they will be arrested.

"They could drive round the corner and kill someone."

Following the voluntary testing, drivers will be given a survey form to complete and return to TRL.

The Essex Police spokeswoman added: "Some drivers will also be tested using a machine which includes a printout of the results and a device which uses a cup instead of a tube to obtain the sample.

Some of the first tests will be next weekend in the Brentwood area, following checks in the north of the county.

If the required 1,000 checks have not been completed by then they will be continued in the Chelmsford area.

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