A TOTAL of 78 people were arrested on suspicion of drink or drug driving or failing to provide a specimen for analysis during the December drink / drug campaign by Warwickshire Police.
This included 15 people arrested for driving, or being in charge of a vehicle, when under the influence of drink or drugs, 42 people arrested for driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit, 17 for driving or being in charge of a motor vehicle with concentration of specified controlled drug above specified limit and four people who were arrested for failing to provide a specimen for analysis.
Thanks to a member of the public a 34 year-old man from London was arrested on suspicion of drink driving on the M40 on New Year’s Day.
The arrest was made just after 5am at the southbound services near Warwick after the concerned member of the public contacted the police.
Officers stopped the driver as he drove off and he failed a breath test.
He was later charged with drink driving and is due to appear before Coventry Magistrates on January 28.
Some suspected drink or drug drivers had a lucky escape following collisions including the driver of a BMW who got the bend completely wrong and ended up high up in a hedge.
Luckily no one else was involved and the driver was uninjured although they failed a roadside breath test and was arrested at the scene on suspicion of drink driving.
In 2020 despite lockdown, three people in Warwickshire lost their lives as the result of a collision where drink or drugs was a factor and 24 people suffered serious, often life changing injuries.
The Rural Crime Team also came across a 31 year old woman from Evesham in the early hours of Sunsay, December 12 in Rother Street, Stratford-Upon-Avon and advised her not to drive.
Despite this warning she was subsequently stopped in her car and arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
Sergeant Sean Bridle said: “Arresting and charging drink and drug drivers in Warwickshire will always be a priority for officers whatever the time of year because if you drive at twice the legal alcohol limit you are at least 30 times more likely to cause a road collision than a driver who hasn’t been drinking.”
