The Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command (RTPC) will be clamping down on drink and drug drivers in Harrow, Hillingdon and across the capital from today (December 11).
Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove, who leads RTPC, launched an enhanced operation to arrest those driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
He said: All year round, officers from the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command continue to arrest and prosecute people in London who risk the lives of others and themselves by driving vehicles whilst under the influence of drink or drugs – not just at Christmas.
“However, some motorists are selfish and think that during the festivities, it is ok to drive whilst under the influence. In order to tackle this, our officers will be supporting the NPCC’s drink and drug drive campaign as we have done in the previous years.”
As part of the campaign, drivers will be required to take a breath or drug test when they are stopped for traffic offences.
In the year 2018/2019 a total of 6,392 people were arrested for drink-driving and 2,532 for driving under the influence of drugs.
Police are now better equipped than ever to detect and penalise those who take the risk to drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Statistics provided by Transport for London (TfL) showed that between 2016 and 2018, there were 482 killed or seriously injured casualties from collisions recorded as involving drink or drugs.
- In 2016 – 10 people were killed and 82 were seriously injured
- In 2017 – 5 people were killed and 172 were seriously injured
- In 2018 – 11 people were killed and 202 were seriously injured.
Mandy McGregor, head of transport policing and community safety at TfL, said: “We want all Londoners to be safe over the festive period. Don’t risk your life or the lives of others by driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
“Shockingly, our research shows that 13 per cent of drivers think it is acceptable to drive whilst above the legal alcohol limit and 14 per cent also think it is acceptable to drive under the influence of drugs. It isn’t and we are working with the Met police to crack down on the drivers that do.
“The police will be stepping up their enforcement activity over the festive period, taking action against drivers that pose a risk on the roads.”
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