Concern more people will risk drink driving this year because of cost of living pressures
North Yorkshire Police are launching their annual safety campaign today
There's concern more people will risk drink driving this festive period - to try and save money during the cost of living crisis.
North Yorkshire Police are stepping up patrols from today.
‘Don’t shatter lives this Christmas time’ is the message that is being highlighted to members of the public in the latest campaign. The force say there will also be a focus on “the ripple effect” that is caused with any serious or fatal collision – the impact for the victim, their family and friends, and then the impact for the offender and their loved ones too.
During last year’s campaign police officers in North Yorkshire conducted 1,035 roadside tests across 32 days. From the 1,035 tests at the side of the road, 121 people were arrested for drink and drug driving offences.
Traffic constable Mark Hutchings says there is no clear limit on how much you can drink, so it's best to avoid it altogether: "It depends on who you are, your metabolism, your size, whether you are tired or not, whether you've eaten, there are so many factors that can alter the amount you can consume, so I think the answer is, if you want to drive and drive safely not to have anything."
"A lot of people say they didn't realise, I think we've publicised it for many years and emphasised how long alcohol and drugs stay in your system, people do make out sometimes that they are not aware that is stays in the system as long."
"The families of the victims they want the answers and when we have to go and explain to them the person responsible for their loved ones death or serious injury has been contributed by drink or drugs the families are just furious."