ACPO Drink Drive Summer results

The ACPO anti-drink and drug driving campaign ran throughout the month of June and tasked officers across the country with breathalysing more drivers.

A total of 100,892 drivers were tested last month, compared with 83,224 in June 2012.

Out of those, a total of 5,170 failed the test last month, while 4,857 failed in June 2012.

The campaign was aimed at tackling those under 25 and day-time drinkers who were attending barbeques or weekend events. There was a slight drop in the number of drivers under 25 who failed, from 1,327 in June 2012 to 1,290 last June.

The number of those arrested after officers carried out a Field Impairment Test (FIT) for drugs fell from 63 in June 2012 to 59 this year.

National lead for roads policing, Chief Constable Suzette Davenport, said: “It is encouraging to see there is a percentage drop in those failing tests.

“However, we cannot ignore the fact that even in 2013 we had 5,170 drivers in a single month who thought it was acceptable to drive under the influence of alcohol and over the legal limit.

“The absolute disregard these drivers have for others, and the potential damage they cause to thousands of families up and down the country, is unacceptable.

We run two anti-drink and drug driving campaigns a year, alongside the work carried out by Government, and yet the public still have to pay millions of pounds in police and emergency service time because these drivers don’t get the message.

If people need to get somewhere there are numerous alternatives to driving under the influence, including public transport, taxi services or getting a lift from someone they know.

I would also ask the public to please contact police if they suspect someone of drink driving. That single phone call could save lives.

We will continue to target those people who behave irresponsibly, risk lives and break the law."

Those convicted of drink driving can face an automatic ban for at least one year and could face six months imprisonment, incurring a criminal record. The same penalties could apply to any driver who refuses to give a specimen of breath, blood or urine.

If a driver causes death by careless driving when under the influence of drink they could face 14 years in prison.

Chief Constable Davenport added: “The reality of driving under the influence is that you can kill someone and destroy lives, including your own.”

For more information please contact:

ACPO Press Office
Association of Chief Police Officers
e: press.office@acpo.pnn.police.uk