Police to step up drink-drive checks

Cheshire Police is to step up its roadside drink-drive checks this Christmas despite a drop in numbers caught over the limit last year.

Road safety messages will be delivered through a series of initiatives across Cheshire and will run alongside a national campaign.

Last winter, there was a rise in the number of people breathalysed within Cheshire – 3273 compared to 3089 in 2011 – although those providing positive tests was down with just 157 arrests compared to 175 arrests in 2011.

Cheshire Police will be running an intelligence led enforcement effort combined with a force-wide media campaign to highlight the dangers and consequences of drink driving.

Assistant Chief Constable, Ruth Purdie said:"Our message to all drivers is, if you know you have to drive, don't drink and if the thought of going out and not drinking is too much to bear, don't drive."

"If you are driving under the influence of drink or drugs, we will be watching out for you, we will catch you and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

The enforcement campaign will also target well-intentioned drivers who do not think they are breaking the law but may be over the legal limit by the time they get into their cars in the morning.

A police statement said: "Those who think they are fit to take the risk of driving while intoxicated are amongst the most selfish in our society – they spare no thought for themselves and, even more they spare no thought for the lives that they are capable of destroying in the blink of an eye."

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.