News
More than 250 tested in drink-drive campaign
Dated: 20 Jul 2012
Northumbria Police stopped and tested more than 250 motorists during a month-long crackdown on drink driving.
Of the 266 drivers checked, 42 failed or refused to take a breathalyser test.
Nationally over 2,500 lives are lost on our roads each year and around 30,000 people seriously injured - drink and drug driving is a significant factor in a number of these incidents.
As part of the drink driving campaign, which ran throughout June, officers carried out roadside checks, testing any drivers suspected of drink or drug driving and targeting known offenders.
Dedicated teams of officers from the Roads Safety Unit and the Roads Policing Unit stopped and carried out the breath tests during the campaign which ran from June 1 to June 30.
The local Northumbria campaign also runs alongside the national ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) initiative.
Chief Inspector Sarah Pitt, of Northumbria Police's Operations Command, said: "It's pleasing that the message is getting across to the majority of motorists that drink driving will not be tolerated.
"The response we got from those stopped and checked during the operation, on the whole, was very positive - drivers were happy to see police taking action against drink driving and I think the public are as committed to stamping it out as we are.
"It is disappointing to see that a minority are choosing to risk their lives and others by getting behind the wheel when they are under the influence and I want to warn anyone who thinks this is acceptable faces being caught and arrested.
"Those who have failed breathalyser tests face a minimum of a year's driving ban, a fine and big hikes in insurance premiums - and it all could have been avoided if they had made sensible plans such as booking a taxi or nominating a designated driver.
"Although the campaign may have finished we'll continue to target those we suspect of drink driving."