A TOTAL of 84 motorists have been caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the first few weeks of West Mercia Police’s Christmas clampdown.
The annual anti-drink and drugs drive was launched on December 1 with officers carrying out operations across the force area.
Following the arrests, police have been reiterating the dangers and reminding drivers that over the past three years 13 people have been killed and 109 seriously injured in crashes in the West Mercia Police area where drink or drugs were recorded as a contributory factor
Assistant Chief Constable Martin Evans said: “There are still people out there who feel they can gamble with drinking and driving and think they know how much the limit is.
“Cracking down on those who take drugs or drink and then decide to drive is a year round commitment for us.”
He said extra patrols were being carried out in the run up to Christmas and new year in a bid to tackle those tho flout the law.
“The simple fact is, there is only one way of being sure that you are safe to drive and that is not to drink at all.”
Those caught under the influence face a minimum £5,000 fine and an automatic driving ban.
“However, if you are also involved in a collision the effects can be far reaching,” added Asst Ch Con Evans.
