Constabulary's anti drink drug drive campaign at the half way point

More than 40 people have been arrested as the Constabulary reaches half way through it's summer anti-drink and drug drive campaign. 

Between 3 and 16 August 25 people were arrested on suspicion of drink driving offences, 15 people for drug driving offences and three people for both drink and drug driving offences.

So far 20 of those arrested have been bailed to attend court.

Ahead of the weekend police are urging drivers to not act in an irresponsible way by driving after they’ve been drinking alcohol or taking drugs.

Throughout August multiple operations have taken place across the county. Officers along with the Special Constabulary have been checking vehicles for driving offences such as speeding and not wearing seat belts, as well as checking drivers for having alcohol or drugs in their system.  

Drivers in Gloucestershire are being encouraged to be safe and social when on the roads as part of the county’s annual campaign.

Chief Inspector Al Barby said: "Too many people are dying as a result of drink and drug drivers taking to the road. There are still far too many people out there drinking and driving.

"It's a real concern to us. We have roughly 40,000 people convicted each year for these types of offences and this is why we are focusing our efforts to try and counteract those numbers.

"We are trying to get people to understand the impact of what they do has on people. We know that somewhere in the region of 3,000 people a year lose their lives on the roads in the country as a result of drink and or drug driving. That's 3,000 people too many.

"The majority of drivers are good and law abiding, it's just getting that message to everyone, to stop those people who are still trying to get on the roads having drunk alcohol or taken drugs." 

The campaign, co-ordinated by Gloucestershire Constabulary, Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, the Police and Crime Commissioner and Gloucestershire County Council, has been focusing on encouraging people to act responsibly and detecting those drivers who are under the influence and will continue this focus for the rest of August.