Merseyside Police are arresting an average of 13 people per day on suspicion of drink or drug driving as part of a Christmas crackdown.
Today (Tuesday) marked the 200th arrest since 'Operation Limit' was launched on November 21, involving increased activity from officers from the Matrix Roads Policing Unit as well as the stepping up of regular patrols. The operation will run until January 2.
Merseyside Police said of those suspects, 143 were arrested on s uspicion of drug driving and 57 on suspicion of drink driving. So far, officers have conducted 862 breath tests and 309 drug wipes.
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One in two drug wipes have proven to be positive and one in 15 are testing positive for drink driving. Roads Policing Sergeant Tim Pottle said: "The 200th arrest as part of Op Limit shows how seriously our officers are taking this year’s operation.
“We will not sit back and let people get behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs or alcohol and pose a danger to other road users and pedestrians. We will be continuing our efforts across the festive period.
"If you do drive under the influence of drink, drugs, or both, you are putting your own safety at risk, the safety of everyone in your vehicle, and the safety of every other road user you come across on your journey. Think of the consequences before drink or drug driving – a crash or conviction can shatter many lives including your own."
Statistics from the UK Government show that between 2014 and 2020, 60 to 70% of casualties in road traffic collisions died when a drug was detected.
Op Limit, which also runs nationally and was previously known in Merseyside as Operation Nemesis, aims to prevent unnecessary deaths and serious injuries on the roads and to raise awareness of the dangers around driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Anyone with information about someone who is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is asked to contact @MerPolCC, 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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