Increase in drink and drug driver arrests

THE number of drivers arrested in a drink-driving crackdown has increased.

Officers arrested 215 people in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight between December 1 2015 and January 1 this year.

In 2014 there were 195 drivers arrested by police targeting drink and drug driving.

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The number of people breathalysed in the latest crackdown was 7,606, up from 6,918 in 2014.

Chief Inspector Henry Parsons, acting head of roads policing, said: ‘We’ve seen a rise in the number of people we have arrested for drink or drug-driving.

‘New legislation and equipment have made detecting drug drivers much easier and this resulted in 30 extra arrests.

‘As in previous campaigns, we were greatly assisted by members of the public who passed us vital information and helped us take these drivers off the roads.

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‘Drink and drug-driving kills or injures people. Our message is simple – don’t mix drink or drugs with driving – it’s not worth the risk.’

Hampshire Constabulary Road Safety Sergeant Rob Heard added: ‘This rise in arrests for drink and drug-driving reflects our relentless rigorous attitude to stopping reckless deadly behaviour on our roads.

‘Too many motorists continue to believe foolishly that it’s acceptable to drive under the influence when the reality is that it’s not worth the risk.

‘Recently improved methods of detecting drug-drivers are beginning to take effect as shown by these figures.

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‘Always remember the potentially fatal consequences for others travelling as passengers or pedestrians.

‘Our commitment to campaigning on this issue remains constant, and we appeal to everyone to make time to take in and respect our important messages on preventing the harm and destruction caused by drink and drug driving.

‘I would like to take this opportunity to again express the force’s gratitude to the family of Evey Staley, who was killed by a drink driver on the Isle of Wight in 2012.

‘Thank you for supporting the ongoing use of the family’s car from that fatal collision in our exhibitions in town centres during December.’

This year the campaign was called ‘Where will you end up tonight?’, with the theme of a mortuary to remind people about the fatal consequences of driving.

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