MORE than 600 drivers were stopped in Warwickshire during a month long national campaign to target drink and drug drivers over the festive period.
The intensive effort resulted in 619 drivers being stopped by officers, and 471 breath tests and 36 drug wipes being completed.
Drivers were stopped and tested for a variety of reasons – 403 for Moving Traffic Offences such as failing to give way at a junction.
Forty-nine were tested for drink and/or drugs after being involved in a road traffic collision.
Twenty-five were tested when officers suspected they may be driving under the influence of alcohol and 21 on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs.
As a result, 44 people were arrested including 19 drivers following a positive breath test, and 21 drivers following a positive drug wipe test.
Two were also arrested on suspicion of being unfit through drink or drugs after being found asleep in a vehicle in the road with the keys in the ignition.
Two others were collared following a road traffic collision after failing to provide a specimen when officers suspected they were driving under the influence of alcohol.
Assistant Chief Constable Alex Franklin-Smith said “The roads remained busy for most of December and the tremendous effort by all front line staff to make our roads safer during the current pandemic cannot be underestimated.
“It is disappointing that the operation led to the identification of so many irresponsible individuals who think it is okay to continue drink or drug driving and we will continue to encourage all front line officers to stop and breath test drivers to continue to drive the message home that Warwickshire Police will do all it can to keep our roads safe for all to use.”
