Hundreds of motorists are being stopped and breathalysed as part of a Christmas crackdown on drink and drug drivers.
Police officers have been out in force around the region carrying out high-profile patrols and checks. Police have been stopping drivers on the A449 Stafford Road in Wolverhampton at night all this week. Superintendent Steph Popadynec said the operations were for public safety.
The officer, from Staffordshire Police, said: “Tackling drink and drug-driving is always a high priority for officers but particularly so during the festive period.
“It is a time for celebration but drivers need to take their responsibilities seriously if we are all to enjoy ourselves.
“Drink driving is against the law and there is no failsafe guide as to how much alcohol you can drink before you drive and the only safe option is not to have any.
“Remember, if you’ve been out drinking in the evening you may still be affected by alcohol the next day and you could still lose your licence if you’re over the legal alcohol level.”
Last year, over 50 motorists were caught over the limit behind the wheel during a crackdown in Wolverhampton. Police arrested 51 people from December 1 to January 1.
Police said it was “very disappointing” drivers had not got the message last year and were determine to cut the number this year.
Driver Jim Wildman, aged 35, of Stafford, was stopped on Wolverhampton’s busy A449 on Tuesday night.
He said: “They were stopping two or three people at a time, testing people and handing out leaflets. Fortunately I was alright and so I was only held up for a few minutes.”
Last year, more than 750 people in the West Midlands were hurt in drink-driving accidents during weekends alone and 540 people in England were killed. Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said: “Drink driving ruins lives.”
24 Comments
Funny how the police can find extra patrols at xmas time. Very raely see a patrol car at other times
WONDER IF COLIN UPSET BECAUSE IT WILL STOP HIM DRINK DRIVING . SAY THAT TO SOME ONE THAT LOST A LOVED ONE TO DRUNK DRIVER . LIMIT SHOULD BE ZERO ..
JINZ
I AGREE JINX . .
COLIN WOULDNT BE SAYING THAT IF HE NEEDED THE POLICE IN AN EMERGENCY…
OR IF HE WAS A LOVED ONE LEFT BEHIND TO PICK UP PIECES BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS JUST KILLED A FAMILY MEMBER DRINK OR DRUG DRIVING.
SO NO THEY WOULD’NT BE PATROLLING THE AREA THEY WOULD BE DEALING WITH A REAL CRISIS.
THE EMERGENCYS COME FIRST.
IF HE IS THAT CONCERNED WHY DOSENT HE BECOME A PC OR A SPECIAL CONSTABLE HIMSELF AND REALLY HELP THE COMMUNITY HE LIVES IN.. I DO AND I DONT GET PAID FOR IT EITHER.
SO STOP WHINGING !!!
more accidents are caused bt peoplewho have’nt been drinking.i find a couple settles my nerves and makes me a better driver.
YES I AGREE JINX
COLIN WOULDNT BE MOANING IF THE POLICE WERE DEALING WITH A DRINK OR DRUG DRIVER THAT HAD JUST KILLED HIS LOVED ONE AND HE WAS LEFT TO PICK UP THE PIECES…
THEY DEAL WITH EMERGENCYS FIRST…
HE SHOULD SPEAK TO HIS NEIGBOURHOOD OFFICER FOR HIS AREA WE ALL HAVE ONE AND THEY WOULD PATROL MORE OR BETTER WHY DOESNT HE BECOME A PC OR SPECIAL CONSTABLE AND REALLY HELP THE COMMUNITY. I DO AND I ENJOY IT . THEN HE WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT OFFICERS ARE UP AGAINST AND THE DANGER THEY HAVE TO FACE ON A DAILY BASIS.
John,
Are you joking?!!
A couple settles your nerves, does it really.
people like you are idiots, i hope you get pulled over this xmas then.
get a chauffer like me! merry xmas
Im with John to be fair, when ive hadf a few it makes me more concentrated on the rd.
Darren R - Wolves
its cheaper to get a taxi then lose u licence and job its nice to have a drink but once u behind a car wheel u become a weapon
Im 100% behind wht Colin wrote previously.
Its like the Police dont care about catching proper criminal, burglers,, crack dealers etc when they can send out a couple of extra patrols to earn some extra cash for there local authority by catching a few more (just over the limit) drink drivers.
Easy work if you can get it ay!
Steve - Birmingham
I agree with collin, the police randomley hav extra patoles over xmas but not any other time, why cant they spend there time getting the crack off the streets
it should be like sweeden no drink at all no argument end of story
elvis, not all of us are rich enough for a chauffler,, and the taxis already be over priced, so why whould you want to leave your car at home
I think it’s great that the police are doing this….. and the only people who moan and complain are probably the sort that would drink and drive. They probably use the mobile phone whilst driving as well because they think they above the law.
The night my son was punched in the face and ended up with a fractured cheekbone there wasn’t a policeman in sight.
I disagree strongly with drinking and driving but its an easy cop like speeding.In my opinion more consistency is required.
LETS NOT START KNOCKING POLICE ITS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR FOR THEM TO EARN OVER TIME ???????
JINX
‘harrold no friends’
What a daft comment,,
If you are a mental retard im sorry,
I JUST HOPE THAT LIKE ME MOST PEOPLE WHEN THE SEE SOME ONE THEY NOW AS HAD A DRINK IS DRIVING RING THE POLICE AND GET THE DRUNKS OF THE ROAD ..THERE NORMALY THE ONES WITH NO TAX ,MOT ANY WAY
JINX
13 What you on about
as todays sun gone to your head or what.
john said: Dec 13th, 2007 at 1:20 pm more accidents are caused bt peoplewho have’nt been drinking.i find a couple settles my nerves and makes me a better driver.
I really dont agree with that because you are more confident and careful when you havent had a drink
i say let them drink and drive and then kill them selves. but the roads are more dangerus today then they where just five years ago but i feel sorry for thoes people who had a DRINK the night befor came positive of drink yet there reactions are still the same as a person with the FLU should we drivers with the Flu.
but why just one month of the year why not all year round.
just for money and make some one have a horrible christmass!!!!!!!
You feel less nervous after a drink because it relaxs your body and hense causes accidents, should be a zero tolerance policy in my opinion,
and they dont actually find extra patrols they pay alot out in over time and take officers from other areas at a time when there isnt enough police already.
you try doing the job they do, there are less polcie on patrols because of all the papaer work they have to deal with now!
What utterly stupid comments by john, darren et al…….. Tell my friend who is now in a wheelchair because of a drunk driver that drink relaxes your nerves!!!! - the idiot who mowed down my friend mounted the pavement while she was walking to a bus stop - yeah that real concentration for you. ZERO TOLERANCE I SAY!
I hate the guardian reading, liberal thinking, nannying, do-gooding country we have become, zero tolerance on drinking? speeding? mobile phone using? all these people calling for this ‘zero’ tolerance will be happily doing 50 on the middle on the motorway an think it perfectly ok, cus there not speeding, drinking or calling! Fact is if your a muppet behind the wheel, then doing any of the above will just make you an even bigger muppet or nuisance. Consequently if you happen to be a more ‘aware’ driver, then the odd pint, a few miles over the speed limit and a ‘call you back’ mobile response wont have any effect on your driving. I have done all the above often, yet i have a clean driving license, full no claims, my mother on the other hand, who has had more car park shunts than she admits and 6 points is seen as a ‘role’ model. And before anyone gets on their high horse i am a member of the IAM, and a trained police Class 1 driver.