Get home safe for 2023- don’t drink or drug drive for New Year celebrations

If you are celebrating plan your journey and get home safely:

• Ask a relative or friend who hasn’t been drinking to collect you.
• Book a taxi or use public transport
• Celebrate closer to home and walk

Will you need to drive on New Year’s Day? If you were drinking the night before then you could still be over the limit and unsafe the following morning. Allow enough time before getting behind the wheel.

The reminder comes as Our Don’t Get Wrecked Christmas anti-drink drive campaign continues, with officers patrolling Derbyshire’s roads, making stops and speaking to drivers.

It was timed to support Op Limit- where all police forces in England and Wales have been increasing their presence on the roads to target drink and drug drivers to coincide with the men’s World Cup and then throughout the lead up to Christmas.

We launched a short film as part of the campaign to remind people of the potentially fatal and devastating consequences that driving under the influence of drink or drugs can have.

From the start of the operation on Monday 21 November, through to Sunday 18 December in Derbyshire around 70 people have tested positive for alcohol during roadside tests, and 32 positive for drugs.

On Christmas Eve around 16 people were arrested on suspicion of drink or drug driving offences.

Chief Inspector Dave Nicholls who leads our Roads Policing Unit, said: “Many drink drivers convince themselves that they will be ok to drink and drive just once – but that one time is enough to put your life and others at risk, or face a driving ban or custodial sentence.

“Think before you get in a car – are you or the person driving safe to do so? Your decision can have a lasting impact on more than just your life. Making and sticking to other plans to get home safe is absolutely the right thing to do.”

You can make a difference to your community by actively reporting drink or drug driving.

If the crime is taking place at the time, please call us on 999.

If you have details of a driver who regularly drives unsafely or it is non-urgent, please contact us via any of the below methods:

• Facebook – send us a private message to our Facebook page
• Twitter – direct message our contact centre via @DerPolContact
• Website – We have several crime reporting tools on our website or use our online contact form
• Phone – call us on 101

You can also anonymously contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111, or by visiting the CrimeStoppers website.