A DRUG driver who stopped to ask Police for directions and another pulling into a Bexhill pub car park already three times over the limit, are just a few who have been arrested during the annual crackdown.
A total of 270 arrests were made across Sussex during the winter campaign to tackle drink and drug driving which ran from December 1 to January 1.
Officers carried out increased patrols and set up random stop-check sites along busy routes to provide a visible deterrent to offenders.
This meant that more than 8,500 motorists were stopped and checked during the campaign, up from more than 6,000 vehicles in the previous year’s campaign.
Chief Constable Jo Shiner, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Roads Policing, said: “The increase in arrests and the rise in drug-driving is shocking.
Our campaign highlighted the dangers of both drink and drug driving. The fact that more than 60 arrests were made following collisions on our roads goes to show just how dangerous it can be.
We are pleased that the public have shown support for our campaign, including reporting intoxicated drivers to us to help prevent them causing harm to themselves and other road users.
We continue to urge people to make the right choices and not to get behind the wheel if they are intoxicated.”
The majority of arrests in the campaign were for drug driving.
Superintendent Rachel Glenton, head of Roads Policing for Surrey and Sussex, said: “This year we have stopped more vehicles and made more arrests than ever before. That is a testament to the professionalism of our officers who work to keep our roads safe.
We carried out more drug tests to raise awareness of how illegal substances can stay in people’s bodies for far longer and impair their ability to drive safely.
Our patrols on the roads continue 24/7, all year round, to catch offenders and prevent them causing serious harm to themselves and other road users.”
