A TOTAL of 94 drivers were found to be over the limit during Essex Police’s 2013 Summer Anti-Drink Drive campaign.
This year’s campaign ran between June and June 30, 2013 and saw officers out in force across the county taking a zero tolerance approach to those who put lives at risk by choosing to drink and drive.
Of the 2616 drivers breathalysed during that period, a total of 94 (3.59%) were found to be driving over the legal alcohol limit or refused or failed to provide a sample.
Of those found to be over the limit, 21 were aged under 25 and 61 were aged 25 and over. An age breakdown is not available for the remaining 12.
During last year’s Summer Anti-Drink Drive Campaign, which ran at the same time as the European Football Championships throughout the month of June, a total of 2250 drivers were tested and 110 drivers were found to be over the limit. Of those 110, 15 were aged under 25 and 95 were aged 25 or over.
Essex Police deals with drink driving robustly 365 days a year but stepped up road checks in towns across the county with bustling night time economies and rural areas where some drivers believe they have less chance of getting caught drunk behind the wheel.
In the run up to the campaign Essex Police made a plea to drivers, their families, friends and members of the public to take responsibility by reporting drink drivers to Essex Police or anonymously to Crimestoppers.
During the campaign, residents were kept up to date with how many people had been arrested for drink driving with an online totaliser on the Essex Police website www.essex.police.uk/summerdrinkdrive.
Adam Pipe, Casualty Reduction Manager for Essex Police, said: “Sadly some people consider themselves to be above the law and make the decision to get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol, drugs or both. Not only does this put their lives at risk but the lives of their passengers or other innocent road users who drive well within the law. Every year I am disappointed to see that a small minority of people ignore the law and drink and drive.
“Our Summer Anti-Drink Drive campaign came to an end at the end of June but that doesn’t mean our efforts to take drink and drug drivers off the roads of Essex will stop. We won’t tolerate those who drink and drive and will continue to arrest and put them before the courts where they will be brought to justice.
“I would like to thank all of those members of the public who called with information about drink drivers during the campaign, especially those from Maldon and the surrounding area. We received lots of intelligence that we are confident we’ll be able to take action on.
“As always I want to make a plea to members of the public to help us take dangerous drivers off the roads of Essex by urging them to keep picking up the phone and telling us about individuals who get behind the wheel under the influence. If you don’t feel able to talk to Essex Police, you can pass information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. A simple phone call could help save a life.”
