Lancashire Police has launched its seasonal drug and drink driving crackdown.
This year, the force has teamed up with Merseyside Police to send a clear message to drivers: nowhere is safe when it comes to driving under the influence.
A joint operation to launch the crackdown took place on the border between the two regions, with traffic moving in both directions subject to randomised stop checks, with drug wipes and breathalysers being deployed by both forces on drivers coming and going from each area.
While forces across the country are launching Operation Limit – a national campaign which is run by individual police forces throughout December, aimed at preventing drug and drink related casualties across the Christmas period, Merseyside and Lancashire are kickstarting the season by working together.
In 2023, Merseyside and Lancashire made more than 6616 arrests for drink or drug driving offences or impaired driving offences. In Lancashire, males between the ages of 20-39 make up more than half (53%) of all drink and drug drivers, many of those still testing positive from drugs or alcohol consumed the night before.
Head of Specialist Operations at Lancashire Police, Superintendent Hassan Khan, said: “Everyone on our roads has a responsibility to keep themselves and others safe and we have zero tolerance for those who choose to drive impaired. The risk involved is heightened further by the driving conditions this time of year.
“Regardless of how confident you might feel about your ability to drive under the influence, you are risking serious harm or death, and it's never, ever worth it. This is reckless, selfish and dangerous behaviour.
“There is no appropriate time for taking illegal substances and there is no sure method to guarantee how long it takes to put you under the legal limit for consuming alcohol. This is why our officers will be out on the roads, day and night, across the county looking for signs of impairment and stopping motorists at checkpoints doing alcohol and drug screening tests.
“It is important to make appropriate arrangements for travel at the time of taking substances that can impair driving but equally important to think ahead about how this can affect you the following day.
‘’Here with our Merseyside colleagues this morning we hope to demonstrate that there is no safe time or place to try to get away with this behaviour. You will be stopped and if you provide a positive test then you will be prosecuted.
“Our message is simple: say no to drink or drug-driving so everyone can stay safe and get home this Christmas. We also ask that if you know anyone who drink or drug drives then I urge you to report it. You may save a life or prevent someone from injury. Friends don’t let friends put themselves in danger.”
Clive Grunshaw, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire said: "Drink and drug driving are unacceptable and anyone who selfishly puts other road users' lives at risk should feel the full force of the law.
"Targeted operations like this are a great tool in making our roads safer and deterring drivers from getting behind the wheel under the influence of drink or drugs.
"Our message to drink and drug drivers is clear – get help or get caught. Don't be the reason for someone else or yourself becoming a casualty on our roads."
If no drugs or alcohol are detected at the roadside operations, officers from both forces are still encouraged to use their training and, if they suspect someone is under the influence, require a blood sample be taken in custody for further testing.
Both Merseyside and Lancashire Police test for 17 different controlled substances in every blood sample taken in custody, meaning even if a substance isn’t detected at the roadside, it will be picked up later in the process by the toxicology team the forces share.
If you know of a drink or drug driver, do the right thing and tell Crimestoppers anonymously at https://crimestoppers-uk.org
If the person is about to drive, always call 999 to keep them and others safe.
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