Wiltshire Police step up roadside checks (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Wiltshire Police step up roadside checks

10:40am Thursday 4th December 2008

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WILTSHIRE Police have warned they will be making a determined effort to catch motorists who put other people’s lives in danger by drinking and driving over the Christmas season.

Their annual month-long campaign was launched this week and will be backed up with increased roadside checks, the use of automatic numberplate recognition and displays of crashed cars.

Head of operations Supt Martin Jeffery said: "We are putting a great deal of time and effort into this year’s campaign, with the intention of showing the public that drink driving is completely anti-social, and a grave danger to other road users. "The message from us is perfectly clear. If you take a chance on drink driving, you will be caught."

He explained: "Research shows that increased enforcement results in a decrease in the number caught driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.

"By stepping up enforcement over the Christmas and New Year period, and with involvement and support from the public, our aim is to reduce the number of people caught, and the occurrence of incidents as a result of someone getting behind the wheel whilst under the influence."

Officers have also been trained to carry out American style field impairment tests on drivers they suspect of being under the influence of drink or drugs.

"The FIT tests help us to better determine at the roadside, whether or not the driver may be under the influence of drugs," said Supt Jeffery.

"These tests are a useful practical addition to our capability to tackle the misery of death and injury on the roads caused by driver impairment - be that by consumption of alcohol, drugs, or both".

Last year out of 7688 breath tests carried out across the county throughout December and 777 drivers were arrested.

As well as a series of roadshows, including one on December 9 at Chippenham College and another on December 13 in Swindon town centre, the force is also promoting its hotline allowing callers to report drink drivers.

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