Drink/Driving Crackdown

Northumbria Police have released official figures following a month-long crackdown on drink driving over the festive period.

In total 146 motorists were arrested across the region with 101 of those charged. The Evening Chronicle is expected to name and shame all those convicted next month, with the figure expected to rise as remaining cases are summoned to appear in court.

Chief Inspector George Maratty, who heads up the motor patrol, is quoted by the Chronicle as saying: “Drink driving costs and ruins lives and although we ran this specific operation during December we will continue to pro-actively target drink drivers and get as many of them off the roads and in front of the courts as possible.

“We need the public’s help to keep drink drivers off the roads and they must tell us about anyone they think might be over the limit and behind the wheel. We take reports of drink drivers extremely seriously and a call reporting a driver who is over the limit could be saving lives on the roads.

“We will always act on information passed to us as it could be the difference between life and death and anyone who sees a driver who they think has consumed too much alcohol to drive is urged to report them to police straight away.

“Thanks to the work done in December 146, dangerous drivers are now off the roads and are facing driving bans, fines and even jail sentences. This should be a warning to anyone that drinks and drives that it’s not worth the risk.”

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