Police issue festive drink drive warning

Drivers are being warned to think of the consequences of driving under the influence over the Christmas period, as police launch their Cambridgeshire-wide drink and drug-driving campaign - starting today.

Until January 1 officers will carry out stop checks across the county to breath test drivers and carry out field impairment tests to check whether drivers are under the influence of drugs.

Traffic officers will be out in force to clamp down on anyone caught over the limit.

Casualty reduction officer PC Tony Barrios said: “Over the next few weeks drivers should expect a highly visible police presence on the county’s roads as we target those who drive under the influence.

“If you drive under the influence of drink and drugs, expect to be caught and brought to justice.”

Last year 121 people were caught driving under the influence of drink and drugs - down from the previous year’s arrests of 123.

Around 6,547 motorists were breath tested during the annual campaign last year as officers conducted daily patrols across the county.

PC Barrios said while the number was slightly lower last year it was disappointing that as many drivers had been over the drink-drive limit.

In 2010 36 drivers were found to be over the limit in Cambridge, 52 in Peterborough and 33 in Huntingdon and Fenland.

There is no foolproof way of drinking and staying under the limit. The amount of alcohol you would need to drink to be considered drink driving varies from person to person. It depends on weight, gender, metabolism, stress levels, age and whether you’ve eaten recently.

Even small amounts of alcohol can affect your ability to drive - the safe advice is to avoid any alcohol if you are driving.