Christmas drink drive campaign gets message home (From Swindon Advertiser)

Christmas drink drive campaign gets message home

12:35pm Wednesday 9th January 2013 in News By Scott D'Arcy

A TOTAL of 85 drivers are now off the road after police caught them over the drink-drive limit during their annual Christmas crackdown.

The results of the Christmas drug and drink driving campaign 2012 show 85 drivers were arrested for providing a positive breath test, refusing or failing to provide a test - the same as the previous year - while 13 drivers were arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs while driving.

The national campaign, which ran from December 1 to January 1 saw a total of 2,579 breath tests undertaken with a total of 85 drivers giving a positive test, refusing to give a test or failing to provide a test.

Fewer accidents and a hard-hitting message are what officers believe is behind the stagnation of the number of drivers testing positive for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Inspector Steve Cox, head of roads policing at Wiltshire Police, said: “Overall, these figures represent a productive and successful campaign.

“As a direct result of this crackdown, 85 drivers are now off our roads for being giving a positive breath test, refusing or failing to provide a breath test.

“Obviously 85 people is 85 too many, but I think the small numbers suggest drink driving has become socially unacceptable.

“For example, we also have a lot more reports from people who suspect someone of drink driving, so we are more intelligence-led.

“The number of collisions reported to Wiltshire Police in that month has fallen by 277 compared to the same period last year, which reduced the number of breath tests administered following collisions by 65 and the total number of those that were positive, refused or failed to provide fell by six.

“What I would like to make perfectly clear is that we have officers patrolling our roads throughout the year – not just over the Christmas period.

“Drivers should not get complacent as we have team targeting those drivers who put themselves and others at risk by getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“Not only are there risks to other road users but a conviction for drink driving can affect their own livelihood, with disqualification impacting on getting to work, increased insurance premiums and of course the embarrassment.”

Anyone wishing to report someone for a driving offence, should contact Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, where information can be left anonymously, on 0800 555 111.