Christmas crackdown on drink or drug driving

Cumbria Police along with the Cumbria Road Safety Partnership are seeking the public’s assistance in a bid to prevent a tragic Christmas.

Every year in December a national campaign is run to encourage people not to drink and drive. However, every year people are still being caught having consumed an excess of either alcohol or drugs whilst driving.

This year, police will be stepping up their visibility around the county’s pubs and will be speaking to landlords and their customers about the dangers of drinking and driving. They will also be asking them to report anyone who they suspect is driving under the influence of alcohol of drugs. With this information police will make intelligence-led stops in a bid to crackdown on those who behave in such an irresponsible manner.

In December 2013, 2589 breath tests were administered, which resulted in 97 people either failing or refusing a test. This was an increase on the previous year where 85 people either failed or refused a breathalyser test.

Of the 97 tests in 2013 which were either failed or refused, 17 followed a road traffic collision. In 2012, 23 people failed or refused a test following a road traffic collision.

Sergeant David Roberts, from the Operational Support Unit, said, “Last year’s stats show an increase from the previous year in terms of the number of people who failed or refused a breathalyser test. This shows that there is still an issue of people risking their own and other road user’s lives by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Cumbria.

“Last year was the first year we appealed for members of the public to report drivers they believed to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Interestingly the stats show that whilst more people failed or refused a test in 2013, the number following collisions had decreased compared to the previous year.

“Prevention is definitely best when it comes to reducing the risk to people’s lives. We want to stop a driver before they kill or seriously injure someone and therefore this year we continue to appeal to members of the public to contact the police when they suspect a person driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“Such calls will be treated as an emergency as lives could be at stake and we hope that members of the public will be responsible with this assistance.”

Officers from the Operational Support Unit along with assistance from Neighbourhood Policing Teams will be highlighting the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs throughout December. As well as intelligence-led checks patrols will be carrying out regular spot checks on the county’s roads.

Sergeant Roberts added, “One area of concern that we would like to highlight is the number of people who drive the morning after a night where they have been drinking. Many people will be attending Christmas and New Year parties during December and may have more to drink than usual. What many can underestimate is the effect that this has the following morning and some will get in a car thinking they will be fit to drive when they are in fact, still over the alcohol limit.

“Our message is clear, don’t drive under the influence of drink or drugs. It is easy to make alternative arrangements to get home. Don’t ruin your own or other people’s Christmas of by making a decision to drive whilst under the influence, it’s not worth it.”

Chris Broadbent, from the Cumbria Road Safety Partnership, said, “This is a vital campaign which we support every year that aims to stop people from driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“The Cumbria Road Safety Partnership meet throughout the year in order to make the county’s roads safer and the issue of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is one that is sadly a constant discussion point.

“I hope members of the public back this campaign and provide Police with the intelligence which could make the difference between a happy Christmas and a tragic one.”

Police and Crime Commissioner, Richard Rhodes said, “The message is simple ‘Don’t drink and Drive’. In a county like Cumbria the roads are the main way of people moving around and it is unacceptable that people behave irresponsibly and drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”