The Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit of Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police has launched its annual drink and drug driving campaign, Operation Holly.
Running from 1st December until 1st January 2022, the campaign combines educational and enforcement activity in the run up to Christmas and New Year to tackle drink and drug driving.
Driving while impaired through drink or drugs can increase the chances of road users being killed or seriously injured in a road traffic collision.
Sergeant Dave Hazlett, 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 drunk too much alcohol or having taken drugs that will impair their driving.
“It is important to plan how you are going to get home after a Christmas party or a night out. Consider using public transport, taxis or have a designated driver, especially if going out in groups.
“Think carefully about the morning after. It’s is highly likely that you will still be over the limit the next morning as it can take hours for alcohol and drugs to leave your system.
“Even the slightest amount of alcohol or drugs in your system has the ability to effect the way you drive; increasing the risk of serious harm to either yourself or other road users.
Article continues below this advertisement “Therefore, this festive season, plan your journeys, think about how you are going to get home as this can reduce the chances of families facing Christmas and the future without their loved ones.
“Our message is simple. 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.”
You see on here the amount of idiots getting caught week in week out…and thats a small percentage..scary stuff when you think about it.
KK, IF the police really wanted to catch drunk and drugged, they could select popular bars and hit drivers coming out and driving.
Yet it is ‘their’ interests to keep the conviction rate low, as then, it appears that it is ONLY the publics ‘flawed’ perception that such crime is high, (and that goes for all crime).
Hence they make it hard to report crime online, knowing that many give up, making them look more effective than they actually are. This keeps the gullible happier, and means they can add more to our taxes to pay themselves more without so much complaining which would happen IF the true figures were known
I agree with your response. However pubs bars and restaurants are only a small percentage of the drink driver’s.. a high amount are school run mums who are at the wine early builder’s still pissed in the mornings youngster’s who probably Don’t even realise they’re over retired people who are bored and think they’ve earned the right to drink and drive ..the list goes on and on ..its everywhere and as soon as you chuck a Mobile phone in the mix it turns even more deadly. Sad but true
Should be a crackdown every day of the year, not just pre announced purges to give the regular chancers the heads up!
Oh dear, the annual drive by the chocolate teapots to raise funds for their office party.