Cumbria police will be targeting motorists who drive under the influence of drink and drugs this Christmas.
Road safety has been identified as one of their top policing priorities by the communities of Cumbria, and the county’s roads policing unit will be out in force to target offenders.
The annual crackdown begins on Tuesday 1 December and will run throughout the festive period, when the number of people arrested for drink driving tends to rise.
Road conditions are already treacherous across the county after severe flooding damaged road surfaces and driving while over the limit increases the risks even further.
Last year, 90 people were arrested for drink driving offences over the festive period and police will once again set up targeted road side checks at key locations around busy town centre night spots in order to catch offenders and act as a deterrent to try and prevent people from getting behind the wheel in the first place.
Sergeant Paul Brown has coordinated this year’s campaign. He said: “It is vitally important that we get the message across that driving under the influence of drink and drugs will not be tolerated in Cumbria.
“We will be setting up roadside checks at key locations into and out of busy town-centre night spots and will be taking an intelligence-led approach by responding to information from the public.
“It is up to all of us to send the message that drink and drug driving is socially unacceptable in Cumbria. If you suspect someone is drink driving, or is planning to, then call police on 0845 33 00 247. Together we may be able to stop a family having a devastating Christmas this year by preventing a serious collision.”
As well as increasing police patrols and the number of breath tests taken by Cumbrian drivers, police will be raising awareness of the potential consequences associated with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
This year’s campaign will be primarily targeted at educating young drivers aged 17-25, who are statistically more likely to get involved in road traffic collisions in Cumbria.
Anyone caught drink or drug driving can expect a 12 month driving ban, criminal record, substantial fine, higher insurance premiums and potential loss of job.
To help get their message across, officers will also be making use of a bluetooth device that sends an anti-drink driving message to a large number of mobile phones simultaneously, near to busy town centre nightspots and restaurants across the county. It is hoped that this will remind revellers to take a taxi or catch a lift with a friend after enjoying a night out.
Pledging her support to the campaign, Assistant Chief Constable Michelle Skeer, said: “We are committed to making the roads of Cumbria as safe as possible and we will not tolerate anyone who endangers the life of others by choosing to drive when under the influence of drink or drugs.
“Many people use the excuse that they’ve ‘only had a couple of pints’, but this is unacceptable, and we would urge people to take a zero tolerance approach – if you’re drinking any alcohol at all, don’t drive.
“The simple message is that if you choose to drink drive in Cumbria, you will be caught, prosecuted and face the inevitable consequences that accompany a drink driving conviction.”
Road safety has been identified as one of their top policing priorities by the communities of Cumbria, and the county’s roads policing unit will be out in force to target offenders.
The annual crackdown begins on Tuesday 1 December and will run throughout the festive period, when the number of people arrested for drink driving tends to rise.
Road conditions are already treacherous across the county after severe flooding damaged road surfaces and driving while over the limit increases the risks even further.
Last year, 90 people were arrested for drink driving offences over the festive period and police will once again set up targeted road side checks at key locations around busy town centre night spots in order to catch offenders and act as a deterrent to try and prevent people from getting behind the wheel in the first place.
Sergeant Paul Brown has coordinated this year’s campaign. He said: “It is vitally important that we get the message across that driving under the influence of drink and drugs will not be tolerated in Cumbria.
“We will be setting up roadside checks at key locations into and out of busy town-centre night spots and will be taking an intelligence-led approach by responding to information from the public.
“It is up to all of us to send the message that drink and drug driving is socially unacceptable in Cumbria. If you suspect someone is drink driving, or is planning to, then call police on 0845 33 00 247. Together we may be able to stop a family having a devastating Christmas this year by preventing a serious collision.”
As well as increasing police patrols and the number of breath tests taken by Cumbrian drivers, police will be raising awareness of the potential consequences associated with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
This year’s campaign will be primarily targeted at educating young drivers aged 17-25, who are statistically more likely to get involved in road traffic collisions in Cumbria.
Anyone caught drink or drug driving can expect a 12 month driving ban, criminal record, substantial fine, higher insurance premiums and potential loss of job.
To help get their message across, officers will also be making use of a bluetooth device that sends an anti-drink driving message to a large number of mobile phones simultaneously, near to busy town centre nightspots and restaurants across the county. It is hoped that this will remind revellers to take a taxi or catch a lift with a friend after enjoying a night out.
Pledging her support to the campaign, Assistant Chief Constable Michelle Skeer, said: “We are committed to making the roads of Cumbria as safe as possible and we will not tolerate anyone who endangers the life of others by choosing to drive when under the influence of drink or drugs.
“Many people use the excuse that they’ve ‘only had a couple of pints’, but this is unacceptable, and we would urge people to take a zero tolerance approach – if you’re drinking any alcohol at all, don’t drive.
“The simple message is that if you choose to drink drive in Cumbria, you will be caught, prosecuted and face the inevitable consequences that accompany a drink driving conviction.”
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