More than 100 drivers were charged with drink and drug driving by Avon and Somerset Police during this year’s Operation Tonic, an increase from the number of arrests in the previous year.
The annual Christmas drink and drug driving campaign ran from 1st December – 1st January and saw 184 people arrested and 117 charged.
This is an increase from 155 arrests and 96 people charged in 2015.
Police saw an overwhelming response from the public during the campaign with 634 calls being made to them from people with concerns about drivers. As a direct result of these calls alone, 52 people were arrested.
As part of Avon and Somerset Police’s pledge to deter as many drivers as possible for getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or drugs, the force named those who had been charged during the operation.
Head of Road Safety at Avon and Somerset police, Chief Inspector Kevan Rowlands said: “Although it’s disappointing that more than 100 drivers have been charged with serious offences, I am thrilled with the response from the public.
“The number of calls we had from the public to report people who they believe are driving under the influence of drink or drugs has been fantastic and a real highlight of the operation. That has had a significant impact on our ability to catch and arrest offenders.
‘It is clear to me that the vast majority of people see the danger caused by drink and drug drivers and are willing to do something about it by reporting offenders to the police.
“We’ve reviewed all the arrests and many are not related to the party season which means our message about not driving after a night out seems to be getting through.
‘What we have noticed during Operation Tonic is that a significant number of the people we have arrested appear to have some form of alcohol or drug dependency and are not recreational drinkers.
“If you have a friend or relative that fits this category then please reach out to them and get them to stop driving.
If they don’t then, for their sake and the safety of others, you need to report them through the contact section on our website www.avonandsomerset.police.uk or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800555111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org.uk.”
By targeting drink and drug driving, the police aim to help reduce deaths, serious injuries and crime on the roads of the local area.
Drink/drugs driving is one of the ‘fatal four’ offences, together with speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone while driving, that are known to cause the majority of deaths on roads.
