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Warning - Northants Police to name drink and drug drivers this Christmas

Do you want to be stopped, arrested, taken to the cells, charged and forced to appear before court? Do you want your friends, family and employers to know that you’re a drink or drug driver? If the answer is no, the message is simple – do not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 

Northamptonshire Police will be naming drivers charged with drink or drug driving as part of a month-long campaign to tackle offending over the Christmas period.  

Do you want to be stopped, arrested, taken to the cells, charged and forced to appear before court? Do you want your friends, family and employers to know that you’re a drink or drug driver? If the answer is no, the message is simple – do not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  

Officers carry out breath tests throughout the year, but with more people out celebrating over Christmas and New Year, increased patrols and checks will be carried out. These will include early morning operations, when people may be driving after consuming alcohol the previous night. 

Chair of the Northamptonshire Safer Roads Alliance, Chief Superintendent Mick Stamper, said: “There is absolutely no excuse or circumstance that could ever justify drink or drug driving. It is exceptionally selfish and reckless and though we share this message every year, I guarantee that there will be some who will ignore it. Please don’t be one of these drivers.” 

PC Dave Lee from the Safer Roads Team, said: “As a police officer on the roads, I have seen the devastating effects drink and drug driving can have. It only takes one second to have a collision that can change your life or the life of an innocent bystander and their family - a family who will then have to live for the rest of their lives knowing their loved one was killed by someone over the limit. 

“When the temptation to take that risk and get behind the wheel strikes, ask yourself – could you live with knowing your actions had caused a fatal collision and the devastation of an entire family?  

“This year we will be naming the drivers who are happy to take this risk and we will be out in force across the month of December, ready and waiting to seek strong penalties for all those found to be offending. Please make sure your name is not included on our list.” 

If you are lucky enough not to kill or seriously injure someone by drink or drug driving, or you simply don’t care whether you hurt someone or not, think about whether you can afford to be caught? A conviction for drink or drug driving could mean a prison sentence, a driving ban, and an unlimited fine.

Not a drop, not a drag - Even very small amounts of alcohol or drugs affect your driving and could cause a devastating crash. To keep yourself and others safe, never drink any alcohol or take any illegal drugs before driving: not a drop, not a drag. The only safe limit is none.

• Plan ahead - Always make sure you have a safe way to get home if you’re going out drinking, on foot if there’s a safe route, or by public transport or taxi.
• Speak out - You don't have to be confrontational to speak out to someone who’s thinking about drink or drug driving. You can talk to them in a friendly way, explaining why it's a bad idea to get behind the wheel. If they are insistent on driving you should call the police.
• The morning after - Make sure you've completely got rid of any alcohol or drugs from your system before driving. Many drink and drug drivers are caught the next day. Drinking coffee, sleeping, or having a shower don’t help you sober up, only time.
• Medication - It’s not just illegal drugs that make you unsafe to drive. Some medicines, such as strong pain killers and anti-depressants, are extremely dangerous to drive on. Even over-the-counter medicines such as some hay fever medication can impair your driving. 

To report suspected drink or drug driving in confidence, call the Drivewatch Hotline on 0800 174615 or dial 101. In an emergency, call 999.

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