Travel Inn offers free drink tests for drivers

Budget hotel chain Travel Inn is issuing free breathalysers and non-alcoholic cocktails to hungover guests checking out of its city centre hotels in the approach to the festive season.

The initiative, timed to coincide with the Government's Think! Don't Drink and Drive road safety campaign, is aimed at "business revellers" who may inadvertently be over the legal limit following a night out on the town or at an office party.

Government figures for 2002 show that 560 people were killed on UK roads in traffic accidents in which a driver was over the legal alcohol limit.

Meanwhile, rival operator Premier Lodge is to trial an in-room "chill-out" TV channel in January to help guests unwind and thus reduce the number of traffic accidents caused by fatigue.

The company claims that watching the channel, which will feature things such as fish swimming around an aquarium, will improve sleep by lowering blood pressure.

In October, budget operator Travelodge launched its £5 "catnap and coffee" initiative, offering dozy drivers 30-minute stopovers to help recharge their batteries.