Police step up roadside breath tests
26th July, 2010
ROAD policing officers in Durham have praised motorists for taking on board the anti drink-drive message this summer – but have warned there will be no let-up in their efforts to target those who still break the law.
In June the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) conducted a national drink-drive campaign to tie in partly with the football World Cup.
And in Durham police were pleased to find that although they carried out nearly double the number of breath tests compared to the previous year, the number of those testing positive actually fell.
From 1st – 30th June police tested 1,420 drivers across Co Durham and Darlington and found 66 were positive (including refusals and failures to provide). For the same period in 2009 police conducted 617 tests, with 71 positive.
Acting Chief Insp Ken COOK, of the force's strategic road policing department said; "Before the start of the June campaign we told our communities we would be increasing our efforts in relation to detecting drink and drug-driving offences".
"I am heartened by the results, as despite the increase in the number of tests undertaken the total failing was lower. However, those 66 people are now facing up to the many negative consequences which drink- driving brings".
"I would like to thank the overwhelming majority of our motoring public for heeding the advice given. But our campaign will continue all-year round and the message remains the same - never drive while under the influence of drink or drugs," said acting Chief Insp Cook.
"Throughout the rest of the summer we will be conducting mass roadside breath testing sessions across the whole force area, involving all of the 90 operational officers who perform road policing duties. And one of the key aims will be to deter those who think they can get away with driving while still being affected by what they had the night before.
"Choosing to drive while under the influence of drink or drugs can have tragic consequences that can last a lifetime," he added.
A total of 18 people died in road collisions in 2009 across the Durham force area, the lowest total since the present boundaries were established in 1974. Alcohol or drugs were found to be a significant factor in eight of those incidents.
