The number of people driving under the influence of alcohol has fallen by a quarter in the past four years, road safety research institute SWOV said on Tuesday.

The main cause for the fall is breathlyser checks and publicity campaigns, the SWOV said.

‘But measures such as tougher alcohol limits for youngsters and the alcohol lock in cars have played a part,’ the SWOV’s Sjoerd Houwing told Nos Radio 1 news.

Houwing also said there is a change in mentality. ‘In the 1970s, 15% of drivers checked in the weekend had drunk too much. By 2011, that figure was just 2.4%,’ he said.