New video released as part of winter drink and drug drive campaign

To support this year’s winter drink and drug driving campaign Northamptonshire Police has released a new video which highlights the reckless and selfish choices some people make on our roads.

This is the second consecutive year the Force has produced a video using body worn footage from its Roads Policing Team of people arrested on suspicion of drink driving offences after failing roadside breath tests.

In 2023, Northamptonshire Police arrested a total of 972 people on suspicion of drink driving, and between January and November of this year, a further 864 road users have been caught driving under the influence of alcohol.

The footage includes two drivers who thought it was a clever idea to drive home drunk, and when stopped by officers one declared “I am drunk already” while the other confessed “yes, I was drinking too much.”

Another driver informed the Roads Policing officers that “I’ve had a little too much to drink” before providing a roadside reading of 103 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

While another driver was a staggering three times over the drink drive limit, and one man provided a roadside reading of 88mg despite telling officers that he had not had a drink!

The video serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of being caught driving while under the influence of alcohol – which starts with a one-way ticket to police custody and a date with the local magistrates.

In fact, the reality of being convicted of driving over the alcohol limit has an enormous impact not only on the offender’s life, as they now have a new criminal record, but also on the lives of their loved ones and the wider community.

Detective Chief Inspector Shelley Nichols of the Force’s Specialist Operations said: “Many people are getting better at being more responsible on our roads but there are still some who will try to justify getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.

“However, no matter how much you try to convince yourself, there’s absolutely no excuse for this type of behaviour which is purely selfish and reckless. Drink driving is just unacceptable.

“Our priority is to keep our communities and roads safer all year round however, there is always an increased risk at this time of year of people getting behind the wheel after a drink and we want to ensure everyone gets home safely to enjoy the festive season with family.

“If you think you are safe to drive after drinking or taking drugs, think again. Even the slightest amount of alcohol or drugs in your system can affect the way you drive, increasing the risk of serious harm to yourself and other road users.

“No one wants to get that terrible knock on the door to tell them someone they love is not coming home. So, the message in this video is simple - make the right choice and never drive when you’ve had an alcoholic drink.”

Drink and drug driving is one of the main contributors in collisions and is one of the fatal five driving offences, alongside careless driving, not wearing a seat belt, excessive speed, and using a mobile phone whilst behind the wheel.

During last year’s festive campaign, 97 road users were charged with driving while over the alcohol limit and 37 arrested for failing a roadside drug test. This compared to 99 and 18 respectively for the same period in 2022.

The Force will be supporting the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Operation Limit campaign which runs from December 1 to January 2, and as part of the month-long crackdown, officers will be conducting extra patrols along with proactive operations and roadside checks.

However, the main aim of the month-long campaign is to educate road users on the consequences of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, however anyone found to be over the limit will face the full force of the law.

To report suspected drink or drug driving in confidence, call Northamptonshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. In an emergency when life is in immediate danger, always call 999. Or for more information visit www.northants.police.uk/dontdrinkdrive