North Yorkshire Police Crack Down: 50 Drink and Drug Drivers Snared in Two Weeks
North Yorkshire Police have smashed their latest campaign against drink and drug driving, making a whopping 50 arrests in just over two weeks! The crackdown, launched on Thursday 1 December 2022, has seen a sharp rise in offenders behind the wheel under the influence.
Arrests Skyrocket Across the County
In the first 8 days, officers arrested 18 drivers. By the second week, that figure jumped to 32, bringing the total to 50 arrests. Out of these, 38 were men and 12 were women.
Here’s the breakdown for the past week:
- Harrogate – 10 arrests
- york/" title="York" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">York – 7 arrests
- Scarborough – 6 arrests
- Hambleton – 4 arrests
- Ryedale – 3 arrests
- Craven – 1 arrest
- Richmondshire – 1 arrest
Shocking Breath Test Results in Northallerton and Malton
Two of the highest breathalyser readings came from incidents in Northallerton and Malton.
On 13 December, police responded to a call about a suspected drunk driver in Northallerton. A 46-year-old woman blew nearly four times over the legal limit. She failed to provide a confirmatory sample at the station and was charged with refusing to provide a specimen for analysis.
Just two days later, a 52-year-old man was pulled over in Norton near Malton. His vehicle was uninsured and untaxed. He provided a roadside breath reading of 124 micrograms – well over the legal limit. At the station, his reading was 98 micrograms. He faces charges of drink driving, no insurance, and no vehicle tax.
Police Call on Public to Report Dangerous Drivers
“It’s alarming to see that we have arrested 50 people in just over two weeks for drink or drug driving in North Yorkshire,” said Superintendent Emma Aldred, head of Specialist Operations at North Yorkshire Police.
“I would like to thank members of the public who are responding to our campaign and providing us with information about people driving after consuming drink or drugs. The message is clear; we will not tolerate drink and drug drivers on North Yorkshire’s roads.”
The campaign also has a star touch with Emmerdale actor Mark Charnock (Marlon Dingle) taking part in a dramatic mock road collision to show the dangers of drink and drug driving.
Special Ops Target Commercial Drivers and Early Morning Patrols
North Yorkshire Police teamed up with Cumbria Police, Durham Police, and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to hunt down drink and drug drivers along the busy A66 corridor. While some drivers were caught for motoring offences, none tested positive for substances.
Early morning roadside checks are also catching drivers still over the limit hours after consumption, reminding us all that the danger doesn’t stop when the pub shuts.
Raising Awareness with ‘Survive the Drive’ Events
Officers have joined forces with North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to deliver ‘Survive the Drive’ talks at schools and military sites, including Skipton Girls’ High School and Catterick Garrison. The message is clear – driving under the influence puts lives at risk.
See Something? Say Something!
The campaign urges the public to “save a life and call it in.” If you suspect a driver is impaired by drink or drugs, dial 999 immediately.
The crackdown runs until 31 December 2022, in partnership with York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership. The force is determined to keep roads safe this festive season and beyond.
