Hundreds of drivers arrested as part of crackdown on drink and drug drivers in Sussex

Dozens of motorists were arrested on suspicion of drink or drug driving after being involved in a collision on the road in Sussex during December.

Officers were called to 52 road traffic collisions where the driver being intoxicated behind the wheel was suspected to be a factor.

Tragically, this included a fatal collision in which the driver was also injured and required hospital treatment.

Sussex Police launched the Drink Driving: Together We Can Stop It campaign at the start of December, appealing to the public’s sense of shared responsibility to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads.

The force called on the public to prevent drink driving by taking steps such as booking a taxi, persuading those over the limit not to get behind the wheel, and reporting those who ignore these steps to the police.

The campaign coincided with Operation Limit, a national operation targeting drink and drug drivers where all police forces in England and Wales increase their presence on the roads over the Christmas and New Year period.

In total, officers in Sussex made 233 arrests for drink and drug-driving during the month-long crackdown in December.

Chief Constable Jo Shiner, who is the National Police Chiefs’ Association lead for Roads Policing, said: “Our campaign highlighted the dangers of drink-driving but also the very easy steps people can take to prevent it from happening.

“Tragically, we have once again seen the devastating consequences that drink-driving can have on our roads, as one person died in a collision involving a suspected drink-driver.

“The fact that there were more than 50 collisions goes to show just how dangerous driving while intoxicated through drink or drugs is.

“Every one of those motorists put their own safety and the safety of everyone else at risk.”

Already as part of the campaign 86 drivers have been charged with offences and have either appeared or will appear in court through January. 

Sussex Police will be publishing the names of those convicted to raise awareness of the issue and to act as a deterrent to others from committing the same offence.

Despite the warnings, officers continued to find drivers putting themselves in danger, including one driver found vomiting in the car after consuming alcohol, and another driver found smoking cannabis at the wheel in a car park.

Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said: “It is good news to hear Sussex Police continue to take dangerous drivers off our roads but saddening to know that still so many people think this reckless behaviour is acceptable.”

“Getting behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a decision that could have absolutely devastating consequences so, if you need to travel, you need to make alternative arrangements.

“With evidence of increased drug-driving, it is clear we need to step up our forensic testing capacity and train more officers in the use of roadside tests so that our road networks become a safer place for all.”

Chief Constable Shiner added: “My officers continue to patrol the roads 24/7, every day of the year, to prevent offenders from causing harm to themselves and others.

“We also continue to urge people to make the right choices. You can prevent the risk of drink-driving by taking steps such as pre-booking a taxi, walking to a venue, or having a designated driver.

“The public can also do their part to persuade a drink-driver not to get behind the wheel, such as by offering to call a taxi, offering them a place to stay instead of drink-driving, and if necessary, by taking the car keys away from them.

“If all those options fail, then we urge the public to report offenders to us, so our officers can arrest them and take them off the roads.”

Drink and drug driving is one of the “fatal five” causes of people being killed or seriously injured on our roads.

The other factors include driving at excess speed, not wearing a seatbelt, being distracted at the wheel such as by using a mobile phone, and driving in a careless or inconsiderate manner.

The consequences of drink or drug-driving could include the following:
• A minimum 12 month ban;
• An unlimited fine;
• A possible prison sentence;
• A criminal record, which could affect your current and future employment;
• An increase in your car insurance;
• Trouble travelling to countries such as the USA;
• You could also kill or seriously injure yourself or someone else