"None for the road" says Gloucestershire Police as people prepare for New Year's Eve celebrations
Officers are warning people of the dangers of drink and drug driving
Throughout December Gloucestershire Police have been running their Christmas anti-drink and drug campaign.
Officers have setup roadside patrols in both urban and rural parts of the county where they've been conduction breathalysers tests and drugs wipes.
Between 5 November and 1 December this year 85 people were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, compared to 72 people in the same period last year.
Now as people prepare for their New Year's Eve celebrations - even if they are scaled back this year - the force is warning people to think twice before getting behind the wheel the following day.
Nigel Lloyd-Jones, OPCC Priority Lead on ‘Safe and Social roads’ said:
"There has been a significant impact with Covid on people's drinking behaviour. We're drinking more at home and when we're at home we're pouring rather larger measures than we would get at the pub.
"This campaign is all about creating awareness of the day-after effect."
The number of arrests made for people drink driving on the roads in Gloucestershire are about 10% higher than last year – but arrests for drug driving and doubled causing a major concern for the force.
"People can be unaware of how long drugs can remain in their system. For example cannabis can stay in your system for up to two days."
"We've asked people to be vigilant around coronavirus and what people must not do is drop the ball around driving under the influence."
As a result of the roadside patrols, the force have been able to apprehend people for other offences like driving without insurance or driving in unregistered vehicles.
"There's one simple message though and that's none for the road. Any drink or drug taking will put you at risk."
Officers will be continuing their patrols into the new year seeing vehicle stops in the Cotswolds, Stroud, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Forest of Dean, Dursley and Tewkesbury areas.