GREATER Manchester Police have made 153 arrests in the first eighteen days of their summer drink and drug drive operation.
“It is absolutely appalling that in 2014 we still have to remind people not to drink and drive"
The summer clampdown has been designed to coincide with the World Cup in Brazil (12 June to 13 July), as some unlawful drivers are tempted to drink during matches after work then make the drive home under the influence.
Of those 153 arrests, 16% were under 25-years-old and 21% were arrested following a collision.
Think
So far, police officers have administered just over 3,000 breath tests on the roads of Greater Manchester and are set to crackdown on unruly drivers throughout the rest of the competition.
Back in March 2014, Confidential reported that road deaths in the region had fallen by 29% in 2013.
Following a 42% rise in road deaths in 2011 on the previous year, a figure that Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Peter Fahy at the time called 'absolutely awful', Greater Manchester Police launched a major road safety crackdown named Operation Dice in 2012.
53 people were killed on the region's roads in 2010, jumping to 75 in 2011. Following the crackdown, police reported 49 road deaths in 2012, falling to 35 in 2013 - a reduction of 29%.
2013 also saw a reduction in injuries, with serious injuries falling by 4% and slight injuries by 11%.
Breathalyzer
Inspector Matt Bailey-Smith from the ANPR Intercept Unit said: “It is absolutely appalling that in 2014 we still have to remind people not to drink and drive but as the latest arrest figures show, there are still far too many people prepared to put their life on the line for the sake of a drink.
“Whatever the excuse to drink, there is absolutely no excuse to drive. People have a choice and should either plan how to get themselves home or have none for the road.
“Any amount of alcohol can affect your ability to drive and getting behind the wheel the morning after can be just as dangerous as driving the night before which is why our officers don’t stop at the final whistle.”
