Police have arrested 24 per cent more drink and drug drivers in Lancashire compared with last year.
Lancashire Police undertook Operation Limit, a national operation to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on the road, caused by drink and drug driving. This occurs during the Christmas period when more people may be driving under the influence.
In December 2024, the force say they arrested 331 people for drink or drug driving related offences – 24% more than last year. This was from the period of December 1 to January 1 where the police conducted 1552 roadside breath tests and 309 roadside drug tests on drivers in the county.
Those arrested include a 41-year-old man from Darwen, who collided with a stone wall on Tuesday December 31, causing the car to overturn. The driver blew 61 at the roadside, almost double the legal limit and was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
On Tuesday, December 10 at around 7.30pm, officers stopped a Nissan X-Trail on Liverpool Old Road, Much Hoole with a broken rear light. The driver, a 26-year-old man from Chorley failed a roadside drug test, testing positive for cocaine and cannabis.
Following a search of the vehicle, officers also found cannabis, several bags of white powder weighing approximately ½ kilo, over £600 cash, and four mobile phones. He was arrested on suspicion of drug driving, possession with intent to supply class A drugs and possession of class B drugs and has since been released under investigation.
Head of Specialist Operations at Lancashire Police, Superintendent Hassan Khan, said: “It is a real shame that every year, we see people making the poor decision of driving impaired. No matter how ‘easy’ or ‘short’ you think the drive is going to be, it is never worth risking your license, job or life.
“It is shocking to see a record number of arrests this December, but I hope this demonstrates to the public our dedication to keeping Lancashire’s roads safe.
“Although Op Limit is now over, we are still out conducting roadside drug and alcohol tests daily. There is hard work going on behind the scenes every day at Lancashire Police and I would say to anyone who chooses to get behind the wheel impaired: you will be stopped, tested and prosecuted”
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