Police launch Christmas enforcement campaign across Banbury area against drink and drug driving

The campaign, which runs from today December 1 to January 1, 2022, combines educational and enforcement activity in the run up to Christmas and New Year to tackle drink and drug driving.

Driving whilst impaired through drink or drugs can be a major contributory factor in increasing the chances of road users being killed or seriously injured in a road traffic collision.

As a result of Op Holly last year, 527 breath tests and 105 drug wipes were carried out in the Thames Valley. Of those breath tests, 27 were positive and of the drug wipes, 68 were positive.

Sergeant Dave Hazlett, road safety sergeant of the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit, said: “Every year we run Op Holly and every year we find that people still take to the roads having drank too much alcohol or having taken drugs that will impair their driving.

“Having even the slightest amount of alcohol or drugs in your system can have an effect on your ability to drive and will make it more likely that you or another road user could be injured, or in the most serious cases, killed.

“Not only is it important to plan how you are going to get home after drinking so that you are not getting behind the wheel, it is also important to plan the morning after.

“It’s always possible that you may still be over the limit the next morning. It can take hours for alcohol to leave your system and some drugs can stay in your system for a considerable amount of time too.

“Therefore, this festive season, please plan your journeys and think about how you are going to get home to prevent the possibility of families facing Christmas and the future without their loved ones.

“Don’t drink or drug drive – It’s not worth the risk.

“If you know of anyone who is drink or drug driving call 999 in an emergency, 101 with information or report via Crimestoppers.”