A DRIVER was caught nearly five times over the legal drink drive limit as part of a festive crackdown by police.
A total of 94 motorists have been arrested across the West Mercia and Warwickshire Police area for being under the influence of drugs or alcohol while behind the wheel, in just the first two weeks of the annual Christmas and New Year drink driving campaign.
As well as a publicity campaign to raise awareness of the dangers and consequences of drink or drug driving police are also conducting extra patrols across the area’s roads.
On Saturday (December 13) the operational patrols unit for Worcestershire reported making five arrests for drink driving in a single shift.
Figures show over the last three years 187 people were either killed or seriously injured across the two force areas as a result of collisions where drink or drugs were a contributory factor. Another 715 people suffered slight injuries.
Writing on Twitter Supt Lee Davenport said too many motorists were still ignoring the dangers of drinking and driving and would have to live with the consequences for the rest of their life.
“Too many arrested for drink drive had been involved in a collision. Think of the consequences of driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs.”
Vicki Bristow, communications manager at the Safer Roads Partnership, added: “It’s encouraging most motorists stopped during the course of the campaign have been under the drink drive limit and we’d like to thank those people that have co-operated with roadside checks that have been taking place.
“However from the results seen so far there are obviously still people out there who feel they can gamble with drinking and driving and think they know how much the limit is or simply just don’t care or think they are not going to be caught. The simple fact is, there is only one way of being sure that you are safe to drive and that is not to drink at all.”
Those caught drink driving face a minimum 12 month driving ban, a fine of up to £5,000 and up to six months in prison.
