CUMBRIA Police caught 41 motorists under the influence of drink and drugs during a month-long summer campaign.

There were 501 people breath tested during the the annual crackdown which ran throughout June with 181 carried out following a road traffic collision. 

The total number of those who either tested positive, failed or refused to provide a test was 41 -approximately eight per cent of tests conducted. Of those who failed, 23 had been involved in a collision. 

During the same period in 2014, police conducted 1,587 breath tests with 66 motorists giving a positive reading, failing or refusing a test. Of those who failed, 16 were involved a collision.

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This year’s campaign saw the force prioritise intelligence-led checks. It was also the first campaign which tested those suspected of driving under the influence of drugs under new legislation which is modelled on drink-drive testing. 

Chief Inspector Matt Kennerley, from the Operational Support Unit, said: “Results like this are always disappointing as it shows that motorists continue to gamble their own or other road user’s lives by driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“Any amount of alcohol or drugs can affect a motorist’s ability to drive safely. Our advice to all motorists is that if you’re planning on driving a vehicle, do not drink any alcohol or take drugs. Different amounts of alcohol or drugs can have different effects due to a wide range of variables.

“Over half those caught under the influence were following collisions, if people continue to drive whilst they have alcohol or drugs in their system it will only be a matter of time before we are dealing with the fatal consequences.

“As a force we will continue to target drink and drug drivers as part of our work to make Cumbria’s roads safer.”

Chris Broadbent, of the Cumbria Road Safety Partnership, said: “This is a vital campaign which we support every year that aims to stop people from driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“The results provide evidence that there are people who continue to risk lives by acting irresponsibly. As a road safety partnership we will continue to tackle this issue and aim to make the county’s roads safer.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Richard Rhodes said: “It is disappointing to hear that despite the best efforts of the police and our road safety partners, there are still some individuals who clearly flout the law and have no regard for their safety, or that of other innocent road users. This is why we need to continue to do what we can do raise awareness through campaigns such as this.”

For further information on the new drug driving legislation, including the penalties which apply, visit http://think.direct.gov.uk/drug-driving.html.