OFFICERS from West Mercia Police have already arrested 30 motorists for drink-driving and 20 for drug-driving in the first week of their annual festive season campaign.
Those 50 people now face at least a 12-month driving ban, an unlimited fine and a potential prison sentence of up to six months.
Officers, releasing the shocking statistics, said: “These drivers have got to ask themselves – was it really worth it?”
We reported last week that West Mercia Police had launched its annual pre-Christmas campaign to make drivers think about the dangers of drink or drug driving.
Officers say there is ‘no foolproof way’ of calculating how much people can drink and remain under the limit, or knowing how much an individual person can drink and still drive safely.
Any amount of alcohol or drugs can affect the ability to drive and there are numerous consequences of driving with alcohol or drugs in your system.
Importantly, it is hard for people to calculate how long alcohol may stay in their body if they are driving the morning after.
And the police said there were plenty of alternatives available with public transport, taxis and sharing designated drivers.
Pedestrians are also being encouraged to stay safe, plan safe routes home and to drink responsibly.
Figures indicate that over the past three years 43 people have died and 215 have been seriously injured in West Mercia following collisions where drink or drugs were recorded as a contributory factor.
