129 Drink And Drug Drivers Arrested In Month Long Road Safety Crackdown
Cumbria Police arrested 129 drink and drug drivers during a month long road safety campaign aimed at removing dangerous motorists from the county's roads.
The campaign formed part of the national Operation Spotlight, which focuses on tackling the Fatal Four causes of serious road collisions: speeding, mobile phone use while driving, failing to wear a seatbelt, and driving under the influence of drink or drugs.
The operation was led by Cumbria Police's Roads Policing Unit and resulted in 82 arrests for drug driving and 47 arrests for drink driving. Officers also carried out proactive patrols and enforcement activity throughout the county during the campaign.
Inspector Holly Lockwood, who leads the Roads Policing Unit, said officers continue to see more arrests for drug driving than drink driving. She warned that substances such as cocaine and cannabis can remain in a driver's system for much longer than alcohol, meaning motorists may still be impaired more than 24 hours after taking them.
Police highlighted the important role played by members of the public in identifying dangerous drivers. Inspector Lockwood encouraged residents to continue reporting suspected drink or drug driving, saying timely information could prevent serious or fatal collisions.
Cumbria's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner David Allen praised the results, saying dangerous drivers were being removed from the roads and stressing that road safety remains a priority, particularly during busy periods when visitor numbers increase across the county.
He added that while Operation Spotlight provides a concentrated period of enforcement, the Roads Policing Unit carries out similar work throughout the year and warned that anyone choosing to drive while impaired should expect to face prosecution.
Cumbria Police said road safety operations will continue alongside year round enforcement as officers work to reduce collisions and improve safety for all road users across the county.
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