As Wiltshire Police’s annual Christmas Drink and Drug Drive campaign progresses, the Roads Policing Unit and neighbourhood officers have made nearly 50 arrests in just the first 19 days of December.
The latest incident occurred this morning, when officers from the Roads Policing Unit stopped a van on the M4 for a suspected overloaded vehicle. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the vehicle had no insurance. To make matters worse, for the driver, a roadside drug wipe test was conducted, revealing a positive result for cannabis.
The van driver was promptly arrested and taken into custody. Sgt Neil Bott expressed concern, stating, “The roads in Wiltshire are wet this morning, and to be driving a vehicle in such poor condition, with no insurance and under the influence of drugs is totally unacceptable and extremely dangerous.”
The Christmas Drink/Drug Drive campaign, spanning the entire month of December, focuses on ensuring road safety during the festive season. Officers conduct early morning and late-night vehicle checks, specifically targeting individuals who exhibit signs of driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs.
Acting Inspector Will Ayres commented on the importance of responsible decision-making, particularly during the holiday season saying“Officers have been working hard to keep our roads as safe as possible over the festive period, when more people are out and about at Christmas parties perhaps consuming more alcohol than they normally would and then failing to plan their journey home in advance.
“Our message to these people is please don’t risk it – getting behind the wheel of your car having consumed alcohol or illegal drugs puts your life and the lives of other road users at risk. Please plan your journey home in advance if you know you are going to be drinking.”
