North Yorkshire Police to invest in more traffic officers as drink drivers still get behind the wheel in lockdown

North Yorkshire Police has announced it is to recruit more traffic officers in a bid to clampdown on drink drivers across the county, The Yorkshire Post can reveal.
North Yorkshire Police is to recruit additional road traffic officers.North Yorkshire Police is to recruit additional road traffic officers.
North Yorkshire Police is to recruit additional road traffic officers.

The force said it is shocked by the number of people still drink driving, despite pubs and bars being shut and people ordered to stay at home for the third national lockdown.

A total of 39 motorists were arrested in connection with drink driving offences across North Yorkshire between January 4, and February 4. A further 51 were arrested in connection with drug driving offences in the same period.

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Superintendent Emma Aldred, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “I am truly shocked and astounded at the number of people found to be under the influence of alcohol despite pubs and bars being closed to drinkers under the lockdown rules.

“This is a stark reminder that having a few alcoholic drinks at home could lead you to still being over the limit the following morning and being unfit to drive.

“It genuinely is not worth running the risk of causing harm to yourself and others and positive action will be taken against those found committing these offences.

“Drinking at home can mean you lose track of how much you have had, there are no measures or as much cost to drinking from home which is clearly appealing to most.

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“Either way, the consequences are the same. You’re just as likely to be arrested, charged and end up with a driving ban and criminal record. And you’re just as likely to kill someone if you crash.

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Supt Aldred confirmed the force will get an additional seven traffic officers over the next couple of months as part of a new Safer Road Network.

She said: "The force is re-investing in traffic officers and offering that high visibility approach.

"There are 6,000 miles of road network for us to cover across North Yorkshire which is a vast area and we will be taking a phased approach over the next 12 months to tackle not only drink drivers but other crimes committed on our roads.

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"At the moment, we have 40 traffic officers, but this will soon increase by a further seven."

During 2020, emergency services in North Yorkshire dealt with a number of fatal and serious-injury collisions where drivers provided samples that were over the alcohol limit.

In December alone, they dealt with 29 collisions where a driver was arrested on drink or drug driving offences.

Group Manager Dave Winspear, from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Every year we see the consequences of drink driving. The impact it has is not only be on those involved but also on the emergency services who are called to assist.

"Please don’t be tempted to have a few drinks at home and get behind the wheel, and remember you can still be over the limit the following morning.”