AN anti-alcohol campaigner has blasted a new initiative aimed at shortening drink-driving bans.

The Government is set to let drink drivers escape part of their ban if they agree to have a new device fitted to their cars at their expense.

Each time a convicted driver gets into a car fitted with an alco-lock device they have to blow into a breathalyser to release the ignition.

The law would give the courts power to order motorists convicted to have the alco-lock fitted meaning motorists could potentially be given their licences back more quickly after a full ban.

But Jon Royle, the East Lancashire area director for charity Alcohol and Drugs Services, said there are dozens of creative ways to cheat the test.

He said: "People could get a friend who has not been drinking to blow into it or even use a bicycle pump.

"And who says they will always be using their own car?"

Road Safety Minister David Jamieson has launched an 18-month pilot project into the alco-lock scheme.

He said over 3,000 people are killed and seriously injured every year with a staggering 20 per cent of drivers repeat offenders. He added: "Alcohol lock programmes in other countries have worked well with repeat drivers and it is vital that we look at how the technology can be received here."

Mary Williams, of road safety charity Brake, said: "We strongly support the use of alco-locks as a way of stopping impaired drivers from putting the lives of innocent road users at risk."

But she added: "However Brake would oppose any plans for the device to replace current punishments such as bans or fines."

A spokesman for Lancashire police welcomed the alco-locks after he said they had been used successfully in North America.