Police launch month long drink and drug driving crackdown

Drink & drug driving

On 1 June 2013 GMP launched a month-long summer crackdown on drink and drug driving.

It comes after figures show that officers carried out 7,326 breath tests in June last year which resulted in 318 arrests. Of those, 82 involved collisions where the driver was found to be over the limit, and a further 40 people were arrested following field impairment tests. Between May 2012 to April 2013, GMP recorded 659 people killed or seriously injured as the result of road traffic accidents.

In terms of road casualties across Greater Manchester in June 2012, two people were killed, 40 people seriously injured and 401 injured, and GMP remains committed to seeing these figures reduce.

Throughout June officers will carry out a number of tactics to ensure the safety of Greater Manchester’s roads. These include, breath tests at check points across the region, road side checks and assessing driver standards. Motorists will also be educated on the dangers of drink and drug-driving and will be educated on the penalties for doing so.

The crackdown supports a national campaign to ensure the safety of the roads during the summer months.

Inspector John Armfield from GMP’s lead for drink-driving, said: “The summer months are some of the best times of the year and we want everyone to be able to enjoy the time safely while remembering their responsibilities while on the road.

“If you plan on having a drink while out or at a BBQ then don’t drive home. Instead make alternative arrangements, which not only protect you but others both on the road and passers-by.

“Friends and family members are also asked to put a stop to loved ones taking to the wheel if they have been drinking and choose to drive. People often forget about the lasting consequences of these actions which include life-changing disabilities, a criminal record or time behind bars and even death.

“Greater Manchester Police continue to work with partners to keep people safe on our roads, reminding people to belt up and work to educate young drivers. By working together we can bring down the number of casualties on our roads.”

The work forms part of the Force’s road safety campaign – Dicing with Death – which urges motorists to slow down, wear a seat belt, switch their mobiles off and not drink and drive.