134 Arrested So Far In Sussex Police Christmas Drink-Driving Crackdown

As many as 40 collisions have been recorded on our roads during Sussex Police’s annual crackdown on drink and drug drivers.

At just over the half way point of Operation Limit -  a national campaign to tackle drink and drug driving - officers say they have made 134 arrests in Sussex.

A significant number of drivers were stopped for erratic or sometimes dangerous driving owing to being intoxicated through alcohol or drugs.

In some cases, drivers caused minor collisions, including a driver hitting a telegraph pole in Horsham, a driver colliding into a warning sign for a nearby school in Westham, a driver crashing through railings in Crawley and a driver hitting traffic lights in Lancing.

Police say no one has been seriously harmed in these collisions, but they highlight the danger to road users and show how alcohol and drugs seriously impact a driver’s ability to drive safely.

Through proactive stops and at stop check sites, officers have also identified and dealt with a number of other offences, including the arrests of wanted persons.

Head of Roads Policing Superintendent Rachel Glenton said:

“Drink or drug driving is one of the main causes of people being killed or seriously injured on our roads.

“Since we started our campaign there have been dozens of drivers who have risked causing similar serious harm to themselves or to other innocent members of the public on our roads.

“That is why we continue to urge people to take steps to prevent drink and drug-driving, such as pre-booking a taxi or walking home.

“We ask friends and family members to persuade your loved ones not to get behind the wheel if they have consumed any alcohol or drugs. Where persuasion fails, we urge you to report those drivers to the police for us to arrest them. This will save lives.”

The Christmas crackdown on drink and drug drivers is a campaign which runs from December 1 to January 1, in addition to the routine roads policing work carried out over the rest of the year.

In keeping with previous campaigns, some of those convicted of drink and drug-driving will be identified on the Sussex Police website and social media channels as a deterrent.

Some of the results of the campaign so far include 30 arrests made in the Brighton and Hove area, 47 arrests in East Sussex including 11 in Hastings and St Leonards, 12 in Eastbourne, seven in Bexhill and Battle, and six across Lewes and district.

There were also 57 arrests across West Sussex, including 17 in the Crawley and Horsham areas, and 11 arrests in the Adur and Worthing areas.

The consequences of drink or drug-driving could include:

• Killing or seriously injuring yourself or someone else;
• A minimum 12-month ban;
• An unlimited fine;
• A possible prison sentence;
• A criminal record, which could affect your current and future employment;
• An increase in your car insurance costs;
• Trouble travelling to countries such as the USA.