Drink and drug driving

Thousands of people are tested for drink and drug driving across the Thames Valley and Hampshire throughout the year.

Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary will be pouring time and resources into drink-drive operations in a bid to slash alcohol-related driving incidents on our roads.

You can do your bit by remembering this number, 101 and calling it if you suspect anyone of drink-driving. You could save someone's life.

For our part, during the Christmas period we'll be running operations day and night taking every opportunity to breathalyse individuals where possible.

Our ‘Don’t get smashed, grab a cab’ campaign will be running on Twitter and Facebook to keep you updated, so follow us @ThamesVP or find us on Facebook.

If you drink alcohol or take drugs and drive, you put yourself, your loved ones and other road users at risk, don’t take a chance, it isn’t worth it.

Drink and drug driving is totally unacceptable and is a serious crime. Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary works to tackle drink and drug driving all year round.

Supt Chris Brown, for Thames Valley and Hampshire, said: “Drinking and driving wrecks lives, most obviously the hundreds of victims and their loved ones who are killed each year.

“But it also changes the lives of the people who are selfish or stupid enough to drive when they are not fit to do so.”

Statistics

• 1/6 of deaths on Hampshire and Thames Valley roads are caused by drink drivers
• 78% of persons killed or seriously injured through drink driving were men and 22% were women
• 30% rise in arrests of women drivers last year (2011) compared with 2010
• 1 in 11 people tested failed the breath test
• 60,000 people are breath tested every year in Hampshire and Thames Valley (on average)

You cannot calculate your alcohol limit, so do not try – it depends on the amount and type of drink, your weight, sex, age, and metabolism.

Drinking any alcohol – even a small drink – makes you a worse driver because you do not judge speed and distance as well and you do not react as quickly. The only safe way is to not drink alcohol at all.

If you are convicted for a drink or drug drive offence, you:

• Will lose your licence for a minimum of one year.
• Will have a criminal record.
• May go to prison for up to six months.
• May have to pay a fine of up to £5,000.
• May lose your job (15 per cent of those convicted do).
• Face very high insurance costs once you get your licence back.
• Will have difficulty hiring a car within ten years of your conviction.

Supt Brown said: “How will you live your life having killed your girlfriend or somebody else’s loved one?

Supt Brown said: “How will you cope with a lengthy spell in prison? And even if you don’t have a crash and we catch you driving when you are over the limit, you will find yourself in a cell with enough time to contemplate the next 12 months without your driving licence.”

If you don’t want to take our word for it, listen to our podcasts (opens new window) to find out how people in the Thames Valley have been directly affected by drink and drug driving.

Please take note of the following advice:

• If you are planning a night out, think about how you are going to get home.
• Do not drive to the venue – you may be tempted to drive home after drinking.
• Drink soft drinks until you get home.
• Book a taxi to take you home – if you believe that you can’t afford to do this, think about whether you can afford to kill yourself, an innocent person or lose your driving licence.
• Use public transport to get home, or stay overnight.
• Never offer an alcoholic drink to someone who you know is driving.