Cumbria police christmas drink drive results.
1st February 2016
Every year in December a national campaign is run to encourage people not to drink and drive. However, every year people are still being detected over the limit, with either alcohol or drugs in their system, whilst driving.This year Cumbria Police ran the Christmas drink drive campaign from the 1st December 2015 until 1st January 2016. In an attempt to reduce serious road traffic collisions we featured in the campaign the heart-breaking story of Ian and Susan Loftus who tragically lost their son Dominic in a fatal road traffic collision where the driver was under the influence of alcohol.
In December 2014, 2907 breath tests were administered, which resulted in 64 people either failing or refusing a test.
Of the 64 tests in 2014 which were either failed or refused, 15 followed a road traffic collision.
In December 2015 Cumbria Police administered 623 tests with 26 tests being either positive or refused in the county. Out of these positive/refused tests 12 of them were administered following a collision. Out of those 26 positive/refused tests 23 were males and 3 were female. The number of tests undertaken by the police are lower than the previous year due to the severe weather suffered throughout the month of December. Less drivers were on the roads and with our officers supporting the flood crisis we adopted a more targeted approach to catching offenders.
Sergeant Claire Sampson, the lead on the force drink driving campaign said:
"These figures illustrate the fact that people are still risking their lives by driving under the influence of drink or drugs on the county???s roads. Although this was a Christmas campaign we want the public to be aware of the consequences 365 days a year and we strive to catch offenders that endanger the lives of themselves and the wider public.
"We want to urge the public to continue to report anyone that they suspect is driving under the influence of drink or drugs to the police immediately and those calls will be treated as an emergency. Our officers will continue to work hard all year round to keep Cumbria???s Roads safe???
Chris Broadbent of the Cumbria Road Safety Partnership of which the Constabulary plays an important role, said:
"This is a vital campaign which we support every year to stop people from driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs, we hope motorists are aware of the dangers of driving under the influence and don???t take unnecessary risks.
"The figures show that this remains a problem and one that as a partnership we have to work together in order to make our roads safer. Motorists must take responsibility for their actions and not drive a vehicle whilst under the influence of alcohol and drugs.???
Police and Crime Commissioner Richard Rhodes said:
"It is disappointing that people are still willing to drive under the influence of drink or drugs. I welcome the Constabulary operational policing campaign and it is only by us all continuing to work together that our roads will become safer.???
