Drink driving 'surge' predicted as pubs reopen in North Yorkshire

Officers are warning they will be on the lookout for anyone over the limit and will be breathalysing drivers.

They have launched a campaign encouraging people to use public transport, designate drivers and report law-breakers to the police.

“With pubs reopening, we’re expecting to see a surge in drink driving," said Roads Policing Sergeant Andrew Morton.

“After months of being stuck at home, it is only natural that people will want to go out and celebrate the latest step in the roadmap to ease coronavirus restrictions.

“We’ll be out around the clock on the lookout for drink driving so we urge people to enjoy their time in beer gardens safely. No drink is worth a fine, a ban, your or even someone else’s life.

“It won’t be just this week – North Yorkshire Police are out all year round and are committed to targeting drink drivers and getting them off North Yorkshire’s roads.

"During the past year we’ve heard a lot about ‘heroes’ and this is your chance to be one; make the right call – be a hero, stay at zero.”

In 2020, officers in North Yorkshire arrested 871 people for drink driving – an average of more than two per day.

Between January 1 and March 31 this year, there have already been 136 drink drive arrests, despite pubs being closed.

Police say drink driving offences peak on weekends, with as many as nine people arrested a day.

Sergeant Morton urged anyone with information about drink or drug driving to phone the police.

"We recognise the public’s efforts in supporting previous campaigns and once again encourage anyone with any information about a driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs to contact us and let us know," he said.