A month-long campaign starts today (1 December) to prevent the destruction and distress caused by motorists who drive after drinking or taking drugs.
Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary are working together as part of the two Forces’ Joint Roads Policing Unit to deter and detect behaviour behind the wheel that puts lives in danger on our roads.
Drink and drug-driving is recognised by independent research as one of the ‘fatal four’ factors that result in collisions that cause people to be killed or seriously injured.
Tackling crime and offending on the roads
Officers from both forces are conducting operations at all times of the day and night during December across the areas of Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Every driver involved in a collision will be breathalysed by police, and officers will make extra patrols based on intelligence about suspected offenders.
These policing tactics are designed to be a deterrent to any motorist thinking about driving while impaired by the effects of alcohol or drugs.
Webchat about drink/drug-driving
On Tuesday (6/12), there will be a webchat with Ch Insp Henry Parsons, of the Joint Roads Policing Unit, who will be online to answer your questions about drink/drug-driving, whether it is about the legal alcohol limit, penalties for drink/drug-driving, how alcohol and drugs affect your driving, or something else related to drink/drug-driving.
To take part in the session from 6.30pm to 7.30pm, visit the Force’s Cover-it-Live page.
Reporting an impaired driver
If any member of the public suspects someone is driving while impaired by drink or drugs, please take action to report details to police.
Call Thames Valley Police on 101 or text 80999 with all the details of the vehicle, driver, location and times. In a life-threatening emergency, always dial 999. If you wish to remain anonymous, call the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
It's not worth the risk: Message from Thames Valley Police’s Road Safety Officer
Thames Valley Police’s Road Safety lead, Sgt Chris Appleby, said: “Drink and drug-driving kills or injures people.
“Drivers who drink or take drugs and cause deaths on the road can be sentenced to years of imprisonment.
“Losing a loved one to drink or drug-driving devastates the victim’s families – think about their pain when sitting at the dinner table on Christmas Day and someone is not there because of an act of drink or drug-driving.
“Members of the public can help by passing us vital information and help us take these drivers off the roads by calling police either 101 or, in an emergency, 999.
“Our message is simple – don’t mix drink or drugs with driving – #ItsNotWorthTheRisk.”
Further consequences
A drink-driving conviction is a criminal conviction which may carry some or all of the following consequences:
- Your car insurance could go up. Having a criminal record will make it extremely difficult to get any other kind of insurance.
- Getting into trouble with the law could be seen as gross misconduct by your employer and you could lose your job.
- Having a criminal record could make it very difficult for you to get another job, and lying to your employer on any kind of application which asks you to disclose any criminal convictions could be seen as fraud and lead to a further conviction.
- To buy a mortgage you have to disclose any unspent convictions.
- You may not be able to travel to America if you have a criminal conviction. Travelling to a country where you need a visa or a working permit can be very difficult with a criminal record.
- Colleges and universities will have their own policies about misconduct and getting in trouble with the police could have a knock-on effect with your education.
Statistics from last year (2015/16)
Dedicated patrols were carried out regularly between December 1, 2015 and January 1, 2016 to deter and detect motorists suspected of putting lives in danger. During this period, 297 people were arrested on suspicion of drink and/or drug-driving.
Between May 2012 and September 2016, 12,444 drivers have been arrested on suspicion of drink/drug-driving.
Since 2011, there have been 46 fatalities on roads in the Thames Valley Police Force area in which alcohol or drugs may have been a contributory factor.
