Nottinghamshire Police Crack Down on Festive Drink and Drug Drivers
222 Arrested in Four-Week Blitz Ahead of Christmas
Nottinghamshire Police have launched a fierce new campaign to tackle drink and drug driving during the festive season. Over the four weeks leading up to 18 December, officers arrested 222 people, including 151 for drink driving and the rest for drug driving. The crackdown aims to make roads safer as the party season kicks off.
‘A Deadly Mix’ Targets Boozy Road Warriors
The initiative, called ‘A Deadly Mix’, was sparked by grim stats revealing 263 people were injured or killed in drink-related crashes across Nottinghamshire from 2018 to 2020. To raise awareness, police have plastered over 2,000 posters and handed out 5,000 beermats in pubs countywide. The message has also hit the streets on the backs of nottingham/" title="Nottingham" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Nottingham City Transport buses.
Roadshows and Real Stories Drive the Message Home
Officers have been hitting the streets too, holding roadshow events in Nottingham’s Trinity Square to engage with the public and warn of the dangers of driving over the limit. Inspector John Lees said:
“We’re always on the lookout for drink and drug drivers, but the festive season sadly sees more people making the wrong choice. We’re shining a spotlight on these offences to make people think twice before getting behind the wheel.”
He added that many people are now facing fines and driving bans over their festive lapses.
Heartbreaking Plea from Victim’s Wife
The campaign is backed by Clair Osborne from Mansfield Woodhouse, who lost her husband in a drink-driving crash in 2021. She urged partygoers to plan their nights out carefully:
“If you’ve got Christmas dos or parties planned, plan your taxi or lift home. If anyone tries to tempt you to drink and drive, just ask yourself – is it worth it? I see the impact of that decision every day.”
Nottinghamshire Police’s festive crackdown sends a clear warning: don’t drink or drug drive this Christmas — or face the consequences.
