Police Clamp Down On Summer Drink Drivers

The Metropolitan Police has kicked of its summer crackdown on people driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The drive is in support of the national month long campaign, spearheaded by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), which will see traffic officers out in force tackling the seasonal increase in drink and drug offences.

Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police and ACPO lead for Roads Policing, Steve Green, said: "Drivers need to be responsible in their attitude to drinking and driving. There are still an unacceptable number of people being killed and seriously injured on our roads as a result of people getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol.

"Enforcing the law in this area is essential in reducing death and injury on the road and we will be aggressively targeting people who continue to put road users in danger."

Chief Superintendent David Snelling, who is the Met's head of Traffic Operational Command Unit (OCU), said: "Sadly, many people are still prepared to gamble with their lives and the lives of others by driving after they have been drinking. Drink and drugs seriously affect people's ability to judge speed and distances. It also reduces concentration and can slow reaction time. One small driving error can end in tragedy.

"People also don't realise how long drink stays within their system and think that after a few hours sleep they'll be safe to drive. This is often not the case and you can still be over the limit the next day."

A drink driving conviction can mean a court conviction, a driving ban, an endorsement on the driver's licence for 11 years and a criminal record.

According to the THINK! Road Safety Website, more than 100,000 drivers were caught for driving under the influence last year.

The Department of Health has recently launched a £10 million advertising campaign to tackle binge drinking.

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(DS/KMcA)