Police warning after nearly 100 held in drink-drive crackdown

North Yorkshire Police temporary Deputy Chief Constable Tim Madgwick, spoke to the Yorkshire Post yesterday following the end of the month-long operation which resulted in more people being arrested than during the force’s festive season crackdown – billed as its biggest ever – that came to an end on New Year’s Day.

During last month’s campaign, which came to an end on July 1, officers made 90 arrests and charged 48 people for driving while under the influence of drink or drugs, as well as administering 2,100 breath tests and fast-tracking offenders through the courts.

One 55-year-old woman from Knaresborough, who was arrested on the A64 at Sand Hutton, near York after other motorists flagged her down and called police over concerns about her driving, was found to be almost four-and-a-half times the legal limit.

Mr Madgwick, who is also the chairman of the 95 Alive Road Safety Partnership, which was launched in 2005 to prevent further road fatalities, said: “I am disappointed at the amount of people we caught.

“There are certain people who are prepared to gamble and drink- drive and think they will not get caught.

“These arrests show that is not the case.

“I am also disappointed that some of the worst cases we found are people in their 50s and 60s.

“In large rural areas like North Yorkshire public transport is limited, but people still have a choice.

“The majority of people are taking a sensible decision about drink-driving and the message is getting across.

“But we are increasingly of the view that the only way of getting the message across to a small minority in North Yorkshire is increasing the enforcement.”

Figures released by North Yorkshire Police earlier this year, revealed 30 people have been killed and nearly 800 injured because of drivers over the legal limit on the county’s roads in the past five years.

Following the results of last month’s campaign, officers are saying public help is more vital than ever in helping bring drink- drivers to justice.

Traffic Sergeant Ian Pope, of the force’s Roads Policing Group, said: “The fight against drink- and drug-driving never stops because it is dangerous, unacceptable and costs lives unnecessarily.

“Nobody needs to drink or take drugs and drive, it is a choice that irresponsible people take and on too many occasions it results in tragedies that could have been easily avoided.

“The results of this summer’s campaign are very pleasing. We had a high-visibility presence on the roads and although we detected a lot of people who were driving while impaired, the fact that we have charged some of them means they will be banned and no longer a danger to other road users.

“It is reassuring that the majority of people recognise that drink-driving is socially unacceptable and I am grateful to the many people who pass information to the police about drink or drug drivers in their community.

“It is going to take a collective effort by the police and the public to reduce the number of people who are getting behind the wheel while affected by drink or drugs, but it will be worth the effort if we can save lives.

“Although this particular campaign has come to an end, there will be other campaigns until everybody gets the message that drink and drug driving is totally unacceptable.

“To help us get the message across I urge people to keep contacting the police if they suspect someone in their community is breaking the law by driving while unfit through drink or drugs.”

During the force’s festive season crackdown, 4,000 people were breathalysed and 81 arrested.