Launch of nationwide police operation to tackle drink and drug driving.

Commenting on yesterday’s launch of the Department for Transport’s THINK! Campaign and the start of a nationwide police operation to tackle the menace
of drink and drug driving over the festive period, Deputy Chief Constable Adam Briggs, Chair of ACPO Roads Policing Operations Forum said:

“With the festive season fast approaching, police forces across the UK will be working to make sure our roads are safer by detecting drivers under the influence of drink or drugs.

"This year will see more roadside stop and check operations than ever before, at all times of day and night and on all types of road. We will be stopping a large number of drivers and where appropriate, will arrest and bring offenders before a court.

“Many police forces will also be using new breath testing equipment that will record the number of people breath tested, as well as gender, age and location of people tested. This will help police to gather more information on patterns of drink driving and ultimately enable forces to build up a more accurate profile of offenders. This will assist police forces to continue to aggressively target people who continue to put road users in danger.

“Drink and drug drive collisions not only devastate the lives of victims and their families, but they also ruin the lives of the offenders. Those responsible could face a lengthy driving ban, imprisonment and could lose their job, home and livelihood. They will also have to live with the lifelong guilt of having killed or injured somebody through their reckless behaviour.”