Police pledge tougher action in drink drug driving crackdown in Cambridgeshire
There have been more than 400 drink drug driving arrests so far this year
Cambridgeshire Police are telling us positive steps will be taken to ensure drunk and drug drivers are being caught.
So far this year, there have been 321 drink driving arrests in the county compared to 721 last year, and 95 arrests for drug driving in 2023 in contrast to 350 in 2022.
It's all part of a summer drink and drug drive campaign led by the National Police Chiefs' Council to encourage people to stay safe at the wheel.
PC Nick Southern is a casualty reduction officer at Cambridgeshire Police:
“There will be a day of action this week which involves stopping vehicles, engaging with the driver and if we suspect that person to be under the influence of drink or drugs, positive action will be taken.
“If it prevents just one person from crashing because they’re under the influence and prevents someone from being killed during this operation, that’s potentially one person that could have gone on to kill someone.
“The message is getting out there that if you do take that risk, alcohol or drugs, prescribed or otherwise, you will get caught and I think that message is coming through.”
'Simple message' to stop the consequences of drink drug driving
Cambridgeshire police officers are enforcing this summer’s drink and drug drive campaign until Sunday, August 27.
The campaign comes after an investigation into the death of Mark Rulman from Warboys, who was killed by drink driver Asadul Karim after he lost control of his Mercedes car in Huntingdon in July 2021.
Karim, of Montrose Gardens, Mitcham, London, crashed into the side of Mr Rulman’s car at 100mph and was jailed for 12 years for causing death by dangerous driving while disqualified and without insurance.
Detective Sergeant Chris Wheeler examines the cause of crashes on roads in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, and was investigating the case.
“We unfortunately see cases like this across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire where people selfishly drink or take drugs and then drive, putting their own lives and others at risk,” DS Wheeler said.
“The message is simple, do not drink or take drugs and drive – get organised, order a taxi or a designated driver.
“Don’t risk the lives of innocent people on the roads who are just driving to get home.”
More safe drivers despite hundreds of drink drug driving arrests
But despite hundreds of drink and drug drive arrests being made, the number of road deaths and serious injuries on our roads has dropped from two years ago.
“If you suspect somebody who is under the influence and they’re driving or about to drive, call us as we know it can and probably will end in tragedy,” PC Southern added.
“More people are driving on our roads and we’ve seen a reduction in those that are killed or seriously injured, and for that I’m grateful that everyone does drive safely.”