Surrey Police make 136 Arrests during their December drink and drug driving crackdown
It was part of the Forces' annual campaign.
Surrey Police made over 140 arrests in the county as part of the Forces' annual drink and drug drive campaign, in just four weeks.
The campaign aims to raise awareness and to protect the public of the dangers of drink and drug driving over the festive period.
Run by officers, the campaign is in addition to other patrols to tackle drink and drug driving, which are carried out every day of the year.
Surrey Police made a total of 145 arrests during the operation which ran from Thursday December 1st to Sunday January 1st.
136 of these arrests were made on suspicion of drink and drug driving.
The arrests included:
52 arrests on suspicion of drink driving
76 on suspicion of drug driving
Two for both offences
One on suspicion of being unfit due to drink or drugs
Five for failure to provide a specimen.
The other 9 arrests were for offences such as drug possession and supply offences, theft of motor vehicle, firearms offences, failure to stop at the scene of a road traffic collision, handling stolen goods and stolen motor vehicle.
Back in December, YouTuber and Racing driver Archie Hamilton met with The Roads Policing Team for Surrey Police, to show how alcohol can impair and impact your driving.
Superintendent Rachel Glenton, from Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing Unit, said: “Whilst most road users are conscientious and law-abiding citizens, there are several people who refuse to comply with the law. Not only is this putting their own lives at risk, but also other innocent people’s lives as well.
“A small amount of alcohol or drugs can massively impair your judgement and seriously increase the risk of you injuring or killing yourself or someone else on the roads.”
Lisa Townsend, Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, said: “Far too many people still think it’s acceptable to drink or take drugs before getting behind the wheel.
“In being so selfish, they risk their own lives, as well as those of other road users.
“Surrey’s routes are particularly busy – they carry 60 per cent more traffic than the average UK road, and serious crashes are sadly not uncommon here. That’s why road safety is a key priority in my Police and Crime Plan.
“I will always support the police as they use the full force of the law to tackle reckless motorists who endanger others.
“Those who drive intoxicated can destroy families and ruin lives. It is never worth it.”
If you know someone who is driving whilst over the limit or after taking drugs, call 999.