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Drink and drug driving levels unacceptable, ACPO says
The results of ACPO's four week Christmas crackdown on drink driving show that drivers continue to drive under the influence of drink and drugs - despite the substantial and well publicised risk to themselves, pedestrians and other road users.
The campaign, which ran throughout England and Wales for the whole of December 2005, saw 133,136 drivers breath tested, of whom 9,275 tested positive (6.96%).
The total number of breath tests carried out on drivers involved in collisions during the same period was 15,635, of whom 1,344 tested positive (8.6%). This figure remains consistent with the last drink drive campaign, which took place over two weeks between 18 December 2004 and 2 January 2005, when 8.75% of drivers tested after a collision were found to be over the legal limit.
For the first time, 'fit to drive' tests were also included in the national crackdown. Fit tests were conducted on 540 drivers who were suspected of being impaired while driving under the influence of drugs, with 178 of those drivers subsequently arrested for drink or drug impairment offences (32.96%).
Meredydd Hughes QPM, ACPO lead on road policing and chief constable of South Yorkshire Police, said: "Despite more than 40 years of campaigns to warn of the dangers of drink driving, and the best efforts of police across England and Wales, some drivers continue to consider themselves above the law, putting themselves and other road users at risk by drinking and driving.
"There are no excuses for this behaviour. If people are confused about the amount of alcohol they can consume before driving, the advice is simple - do not drink at all if you are planning to drive.
"This, the Association of Chief Police Officers' largest ever drink driving crackdown, saw a total of 9,275 drink drivers breathalysed and arrested.
"This Christmas, police also put extra emphasis on catching drivers whose driving is impaired by the use of drugs, numbers of whom are increasing, particularly amongst young people. A worrying 32.96% of the 540 drivers who were given the 'fit to drive' test were arrested for drug offences as a result of the campaign. This sends a clear message to drivers that driving impaired under the influence of drugs is no more acceptable than drink driving and will not be tolerated.
"People considering driving whilst under the influence of either drink or drugs should be aware that this police crackdown is not just for Christmas - it's for life."
For the full story go to: http://www.acpo.police.uk |
