One in three people killed in road crashes have consumed alcohol.

The Road Safety Authority has revealed the statistics while renewing their message to people not to drink and drive this St. Patrick's weekend.

1600 people have been arrested on suspicion of drink driving since the start of the year.  

That's a 12% increase on the same period in 2016.

RSA chief executive is Moya Murdoch:Assistant Commissioner Michael Finn believes better enforcement is catching more drink drivers, but he believes there's an increase in those taking the chance: