Police campaign targets drug drivers during World Cup

One line can end the game.

That’s our message to drug drivers who choose to play with people’s lives by drug driving this World Cup.

With the first game set to kick off in exactly a week’s time, officers are asking drivers not to risk ending their own life or someone else’s by driving under the influence.

Whilst the vast majority of drivers now accept that drink driving is unacceptable after it became illegal nearly seven decades ago, we have seen a rise in those taking drugs and driving in recent years.

Unlike the feeling of being drunk, drug drivers can often appear ‘normal’ with some passengers not realising they’re getting a lift off an unfit driver.

But what they don’t realise is that drugs can seriously impair their ability to drive, often leading to devastating consequences.

Drugs can also stay in your system for days after consumption, making it harder to tell if you’re fit to drive.

And if you’re stopped by one of our officers on patrol this World Cup season, that’s probably the end of the game for your job and driving licence.

If you’re lucky you’ll be replacing them with a criminal record. If you’re unlucky, our officers will be visiting your family to break the news you died because you were drug driving.

Strategic Roads Policing Inspector Andy Howarth, of Durham Roads and Armed Policing Unit, said: “We see firsthand the devastation that driving under the influence causes – it rips families apart and causes unimaginable suffering.

“Officers will be carrying out extra drink and drug drive checks across County Durham and Darlington whilst the World Cup is on.

“Make this World Cup memorable for the right reasons, not the life-destroying ones.”

Durham Police and Crime Commissioner, Joy Allen, said: “As Police and Crime Commissioner, I see the devastating and often lifelong impact that road traffic collisions have on victims, their families and entire communities. I hear first‑hand from people whose lives have been turned upside down in an instant. The reality is that the consequences of these incidents are immeasurable.

“That knock on the door from the police is something no family ever forgets. It marks the start of a cascade of grief, trauma and loss that can never truly be undone.

“There is absolutely no excuse for driving under the influence of drink or drugs. Choosing to get behind the wheel impaired is not just reckless – it is a decision that can destroy lives, including your own.

“We all have a responsibility to do our bit to keep County Durham and Darlington’s roads safe. Plan ahead, make safe choices, and never take that risk.”

Drug driving kills. Don’t cross the line.