Alarming drink driving results ‘make for a difficult read’, say police

The number of drink driving offences over Christmas was ‘alarming’, a senior police officer said tonight (Thursday).

Her comments came as North Yorkshire Police released the final results of the annual Christmas crackdown on drink and drug drivers .

Between 1 December and 1 January, officers have conducted 1,035 roadside tests in North Yorkshire across 32 days.

Following the roadside tests 121 people were arrested.

There were:

• 73 arrests for drink driving,
• 40 arrests for drug driving (one person was arrested for both drink and drug driving)
• and nine people were arrested for failing to provide.

Eighteen of the arrests were following a road traffic collision.

Drink drive arrests Christmas 2022

Area	No of arrests
Harrogate	33
York	30
Scarborough	20
Hambleton	12
Selby	10
Richmond	7
Ryedale	6
Craven	3

Out of the 121 arrests, 49 people have so far been charged. Seven of these have been convicted with a further 42 due at court.

The seven convictions have led to £3,621 in fine costs and 126 months in disqualifications.

The highest reading recorded was 141 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, recorded by a Richmondshire woman. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Superintendent Emma Aldred, the force’s head of specialist operations, said: “Along with other emergency services we see far too often the devastating consequences that drink and drug driving causes.

“We often use the term ‘the ripple effect,’ as the mindless actions from one individual can lead to trauma and heartache for many more people. 

“Although a vast majority of people were driving within the legal limits, 121 arrests is an alarming number, and it makes this set of results a difficult read.

“We’re persistent in our approach all year round and we will never give up on the fight to make the roads in North Yorkshire a safer place for everyone.”