159 motorists breathalysed in first days of anti-drink drive campaign in Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire Police have launched their annual campaign, coinciding with the start of Euro 2016.

Officers will be stopping vehicles and carrying out breath tests on drivers during a countywide period of activity to deal with driving offences.

During the first two operations held as part of the campaign – on Friday, June 3 and Saturday, June 4 – 159 breath tests were taken in Northampton and Wellingborough and three arrests were made for drink driving. In total, 31 driving offences were identified.

Nine vehicles were seized for offences including drink-driving, driving without insurance, driving without a driving licence and for driving an untaxed vehicle.

PC David Lee, a Safer Roads Team officer, said: “With the football season upon us, and with barbecue season well and truly underway, June is usually a month when more people may be drinking socially, so it is also a good time for us to step up our drink drive enforcement activities.

“The drink-drive message has been around for many years but sadly we are still seeing cases of motorists driving while over the limit.

“Carrying out these enforcement exercises, alongside regular engagement and education work, is a vital part of striving to make Northamptonshire’s roads safer and is important in helping reinforce the message that driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be tolerated.

“It is always better to organise for a taxi or a lift home after drinking, rather than to risk being involved in a serious, or potentially fatal, collision.”