Crackdown on drink or drug drivers

POLICE are again cracking down on drink or drug drivers in the Warrington area in the run-up to Christmas.
Road policing officers are carrying out high-profile patrols – using marked and unmarked cars and motorcycles – and road side checks across the borough as part of an operation to drive home the message.
Every driver who commits a traffic offence or is involved in a collision is being breath-tested – whatever the time of day.
Officers will also be stopping and testing anyone who they suspect is under the influence of drink or drugs.
Specially trained officers are conducting Field Impairment Tests (FIT) on people to see whether the drivers are unfit to drive through drug-related impairment.
Sergeant Neil Farnworth said: “Cheshire Police and its partners take drink and drug-driving extremely seriously. We are all committed to working together to make Warrington’s roads safer.
“Drivers should be aware that officers will be carrying out checks on roads across the town in the run-up to and after Christmas. Anyone caught drink or drug-driving will be prosecuted – drivers should be aware that the penalties for drink driving are the same as for drug-driving – a minimum of 12 months disqualification for anyone caught driving under the influence.
Sergeant Farnworth said: “Alcohol and drugs affect your ability to drive and people need to remember that there is no foolproof way of drinking and staying under the limit – or of knowing how much you can drink and still drive safely.
“The Christmas operation is not only aimed at the night time economy but also those who drive the morning after a heavy night out – and think they are safe to get behind the wheel. People need to remember that alcohol stays in the body for some time and those who get up after a heavy night of drinking and think they are fine could still be over the legal limit.
“The message is clear – do not drink or take drugs and drive.
“We hope that our actions are helping to get the message across loud and clear that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated on roads in the Warrington area. We also hope that our actions are helping to reassure other road users and local residents that we will take positive action against anyone who is found to be drink or drug driving.”