North Yorkshire Police and 95 Alive have launched their summer drink and drug driving campaign today (Wednesday 1 June 2016) with an event at Prospect Crescent in Harrogate.
Officers from the Roads Policing Group, along with our partners from 95 Alive and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Services spent time talking to the public and members of the media.
With the better weather and lighter nights, Police are well aware from experience that the incidents of drink and drug driving increase over the summer months. This year is no exception, and with the forthcoming Euro 2016 football tournament taking place from 10 June – 10 July, the decision has been taken to extend the campaign to the end of the tournament.
Over 850 breath tests were conducted during last year’s summer campaign, resulting in 111 people being arrested for drink and drug driving. Alarmingly 12% of those arrested for drink driving were three times the legal limit.
Last summer also saw the new, easy to use roadside drug kits being employed – resulting in 14% of arrests made being for drug driving.
To aid the ‘don’t drink or drug drive’ message to hit home, the force have produced a video which shows just a few of the incidents that Roads Policing Officers have attended in the last 12 months. All of the incidents depicted have been as a result of drink or drug driving.
Acting Chief Constable Tim Madgwick said:
As the images in the video very clearly show – drink and drug drivers are not only a danger to themselves, they put the lives of other road users at risk. To drink or take drugs and get behind the wheel of a car is a completely irresponsible and selfish thing to do. North Yorkshire Police are, as ever, committed to getting these dangerous drivers off the road.
Speaking about the forthcoming campaign, Sgt Andy Morton of North Yorkshire Police Roads Policing Group said:
Over the next six weeks we will be on the roads looking for those people who break the law. If you choose to drive under the influence of drink or drugs, we are out there and we will catch you. You will face a court appearance, a hefty fine, a driving ban and the possibility of a prison sentence. I appeal to members of the public that if they have information about anyone who is driving under the influence of drink or drugs, please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 1 and pass the details to the Force Control Room.
