Don’t Drink and Drive

Special Operations Unit Chief Inspector Iain Dixon said; “The summer months can be the most challenging for our officers, there have been a number of serious and fatal road traffic collisions already this year and this campaign gives us a focus of educating people about the dangers of drinks driving and to enforce the law on the road.

“Through continued education and enforcement we continue to change behaviours and attitudes toward drink and drug driving.  Nationally drink and drug driving remains a problem and continued campaigns are necessary to tackle the issue.”

“Officers will be out across the region stopping drivers suspected of driving under the influence of drink or drugs.  We will also be conducting regular road side testing and acting on information from the public about specific drivers who are believed to flouting the laws by chancing drink driving.

“I would appeal for anyone who suspects someone of drink driving to report it to us by phoning our non-emergency number 101.”

The stats and details:

Statistics from the Department for Transport (DfT) show that in 2016 an estimated 9,040 people were killed or injured in drink-drive accidents, a rise of 7% from 8,470 in 2015.  The total number of accidents where at least one driver or rider was over the legal alcohol limit rose by 6% to 6,070 in 2016. The final estimate of drink-drive fatalities of 230 for 2016 is higher than in 2015, but the rise was reported as not statistically significant and fatalities appear stable since 2012.

Officers from across the Humberside force area will carry out breath tests where the officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that a person

• was the driver at the time of a road traffic collision as per force policy.
• is driving, attempting to drive or being in charge of a motor vehicle on a road or other public place, with alcohol in his/her body, or has committed a moving traffic offence.
• has been driving or attempting to drive, or has been in charge of a motor vehicle on a road or other public place with alcohol in his/her body.
• has been driving or attempting to drive, or been in charge of a motor vehicle on a road or other public place and has committed a moving traffic offence.
• where information provided by a member of the public leads to the suspicion that someone may be drink driving.

Drink or Drug Driving – the consequences
Being in charge of a vehicle while above the legal limit or unfit through drink. You may get:

• 3 months’ imprisonment
• up to £2,500 fine
• a possible driving ban

Driving or attempting to drive while above the legal limit or unfit through drink. You may get:

• 6 months’ imprisonment
• an unlimited fine
• a driving ban for at least 1 year (3 years if convicted twice in 10 years)

Refusing to provide a specimen of breath, blood or urine for analysis. You may get:

• 6 months’ imprisonment
• an unlimited fine
• a ban from driving for at least 1 year

Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink. You may get:

• 14 years’ imprisonment
• an unlimited fine
• a ban from driving for at least 2 years
• an extended driving test before your licence is returned

For more information about laws and driving penalties follow this link: https://www.gov.uk/drink-drive-limit