Drink- and drug-driver arrests in Chester surge in December

A total of 25 drivers were caught drink-driving in December 2018 on roads in the city area, compared to 17 in December 2017 and 14 in December 2016.

Motorists caught drug-driving in Chester numbered 14 in December 2018, compared to nine in December 2017 and eight in December 2016.

Police and crime commissioner David Keane expressed dismay at those who got behind the wheel while over the limit.

He said: “I am disappointed to see that some motorists on Cheshire’s roads have not followed warnings issued by Cheshire police to not drive whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

"People know the dangers of drink and drug driving, yet we’ve still seen drivers put their own lives and the lives of other road users and pedestrians in danger over the Christmas period.

“Cheshire police are continuing to work hard to tackle this behaviour and I’d like to thank all the emergency services who worked hard over the festive season to keep our roads safe.”

The picture was a little better in Ellesmere Port, where the number of drink-drivers has dipped from 10 caught in December 2016 to eight in December 2017 and seven in December 2018.

For drug-driving in Ellesmere Port, one motorist was caught in December 2016, seven were recorded in December 2017 and three were arrested in December 2018.

Across the county, 227 Cheshire drivers were arrested for drink- or drug-driving during a Cheshire police operation.

From December 1 to January 1, 140 people were arrested for drink driving, with a further 87 arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of illegal drugs.

All roads policing officers across Cheshire are equipped with both alcohol testing kits and drugs wipes which can instantly detect whether a driver is under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs whilst behind the wheel. There were 1,230 breath tests carried out, resulting in 140 arrests, and 123 drug tests leading to 87 arrests.

Superintendent Jo Marshall-Bell, of Cheshire's road policing unit, said: “There has been a slight increase in arrests over last year and it is astounding to see how many people continue to believe it is acceptable to drive under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs.

“Over the campaign period we took a much more focused, intelligence-led, approach, targeting the ‘who, when, where’, which has been borne out in the results.

“Driving under the influence of either alcohol or drugs is extremely dangerous; it affects your reaction time, making it harder for you to judge your speed, judge your distance between you and other vehicles and notice potential hazards. All of this means that you are more likely to be involved in a collision.

All of those arrested as part of this operation will now have to face the consequences of their actions, which will have a significant impact on both their personal and professional lives.

Superintendent Marshall-Bell added: “The consequences of drink and drug driving can be devastating, not only for the driver of the vehicle but their families and innocent members of the public. We are committed to reducing the number of alcohol and drug related deaths on our roads, and my officers will use all of the tools available to them to help us achieve our goal.

“I also want to reassure residents that, although this operation has concluded, it is an issue that we continue to target seven days a week, 365 days a year. The message is clear, if you drive whilst under the influence of drink or drugs in Cheshire, you will be caught.”

A total of nine drink-drivers were dealt with in one day at Chester Magistrates Court recently.

Almost all the offences had taken place in Cheshire during December.

It led District Judge Nicholas Sanders, while sentencing one of the defendants, to say: "It's really depressing to see so many people coming through, knowing that the police are out at this time of year looking for drink-drivers, and people like you with great potential going out to drink-drive."