Thames Valley Police kicks off the summer drink drive crackdown on Monday 6 June.
The campaign is part of a national crackdown by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Department for Transport (DfT), aimed at reducing the number of people killed and injured on our roads by people who drink and drive.
According to national research and analysis, young men age 16-20 ‘opt-out’ of the current drink drive message because for them it means 'drunk' - they believe that having one to two pints is perfectly acceptable.
In addition, many people are not aware of the continuing effects of alcohol the morning after. In many cases, alcohol is still present in the body and will be identified during the breath test. The overall aim of the campaign is to convince drivers that a conviction for drink/drug driving has the potential to ruin their life.
Thames Valley Police and ACPO hope that understanding the consequences of their offending will deter people from being so irresponsible. A night in police cells sobering up with the possibility of being charged and going straight to court, followed by a lengthy ban, are the reality.
Thames Valley Police will conduct random drink/speed and seatbelt checks at all times of the day and night. Drivers will be asked to provide a specimen of breath in accordance with the Road Traffic Act 1988. Where there is no suspicion of alcohol, no moving traffic offences or involvement in a road collision, drivers will be offered the opportunity to participate in the campaign and provide a sample on a voluntary basis. We will explain the reasons for these checks to drivers and ask for the motoring public’s support.
During last year’s summer campaign, 2,306 drivers were breathalysed and 232 drivers either provided positive tests or refused to give a specimen.
Officers will also record additional information about those stopped, relating to what age bracket they fall into. This data will be provided to the Department for Transport (DfT), who will analyse it to understand the level of drink-driving nationally and the correlation between age and drink-driving behaviour.
Chief Inspector Gill Wootton from Milton Keynes Road Policing base said: “Drink driving is now much more socially unacceptable, but there are still some individuals who continue to ignore the warnings. It is a very serious offence and people need to understand the gravity of their actions if they drink and drive. We are particularly focussing on the effect of driving the day after ‘a night out’.
“For those who have been out to enjoy a summer evening with friends, they must also think about whether the alcohol is clear from their system the day after. If they are not sure, then it is not worth taking the chance.”
Do you know someone who drinks or takes drugs and drives? Call police on 0845 8 505 505 or, if it’s an emergency, dial 999. If you don’t want to speak to police or give your name, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
All drivers who provide a positive breath test, refuse to provide or fail to provide face losing their licence for at least 12 months. They could go to prison for six months or pay a fine of up to £5,000.
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