AHEAD of the weekend, Essex Police are stepping up efforts as part of Operation Limit, a national road safety campaign aimed at tackling drink and drug driving.
With the last weekend before Christmas upon us, we know many people will be heading out to celebrate – early pay packets, work parties, and festive gatherings mean our roads will be busier than ever.
Inspector Carl Habbershaw, who is leading the force’s response, spoke to BBC Essex’s Sonia Watson on Thursday morning (18 December), warning of the dangers.
“We’re extremely worried about people driving impaired – we don’t want people dying on our roads.
“This concern is not without reason. 58 lives have already been lost on Essex roads this year, some directly due to drink or drug driving.
“The risks are very clear: impaired drivers make poor decisions on a night out, a lack of planning for getting home safely can lead to tragedy and the festive season increases temptation – parties, celebrations, and even the next morning when people rush out for shopping while still over the limit.
“But, the public should be reassured that we are doing everything possible to remove dangerous drivers from our roads.
“In the first two weeks of December alone, 241 arrests have been made for drink and drug driving offences.”
We’re tackling this issue head-on by:
- Increasing road safety patrols throughout December
- Using intelligence-led, targeted approaches
- Deploying specialist roads policing officers trained to carry out roadside tests
- Training more officers to spot the signs and act quickly
Drink and drug driving often links to other serious crimes, including domestic abuse and violence against women and girls. By stopping impaired drivers, we’re also helping to prevent wider harm.
The roads policing officer added: “We’ve all seen someone in the pub who’s clearly not fit to drive. If you spot this, please report it. This year, we’re using Live Chat for the first time, or in an emergency, call 999.
“This is not “telling tales” – it’s about saving lives. Keeping our roads safe is everyone’s responsibility.”
There is no excuse for drink or drug driving. So, here’s our message:
- We’ll be visible on our roads, targeting those who put your safety at risk.
- If you’re going out, plan your way home – book a taxi, use public transport, or have a designated driver.
- Look after each other – don’t let a friend get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking or taking drugs.
Enjoy the festive season but do it responsibly. Together, we can make sure everyone gets home safely.
