
More than 450 drivers were arrested for drink or drug driving during West Yorkshire Police’s festive crackdown.
In total from 1 December, 2019, to 1 January, 2020, there were 276 arrests for drink driving and 164 arrests for drug driving.
In addition to increased enforcement action on the county’s roads, West Yorkshire Police ran an awareness campaign throughout the month highlighting the potential cost of getting behind the wheel after drinking or taking drugs.
Regarding the campaign, Chief Inspector Lisa Kirkland, Head of West Yorkshire Police’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “Of the hundreds of drivers that we have arrested during our December enforcement campaign, some will have been as a result of collisions, while others will thankfully have been stopped before their impaired driving has caused harm to themselves or others.
“These drivers are facing the new year with the prospect of losing their driving licence and potentially their freedom.
“For the first time, we have seen nearly as many drivers arrested on suspicion of driving after taking drugs as there were drivers arrested for being over the legal drink drive limit.
“While we highlight the issue of drink and drug driving over the Christmas period, our officers work year round to take drivers who break the law off our roads for the safety of themselves and other road users.”