Motorists urged to resist the temptation of drink driving ahead of Jubilee weekend

Officers are urging Derbyshire residents to enjoy the bank holiday celebrations safely and plan ahead to avoid the temptation of getting behind the wheel after a few drinks.

The message comes as we share several good results from our Road’s Policing Team, which include a disqualified drink driver being jailed, and two other drink drivers who have been dealt with at court.

Callum Inquieti of Rookery Close, Belper was jailed for more than a year, on 17 May, after he was found driving a car in Ilkeston whilst double the legal drink drive limit.

The 29-year-old was also disqualified from driving at the time of the incident on the 26 March this year. He failed to stop for officers and drove the wrong way around a roundabout in a bid to lose them during a pursuit. Inqueti was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment and banned from driving for 43 months.

Chief Inspector, Dave Nicholls who is Derbyshire’s force lead for road traffic collisions relating to death and serious injury said:

“As the Inquieti case shows judges will jail motorists who insist on driving dangerously and under the influence of alcohol.

“We absolutely want to ensure that everybody enjoys the bank holiday, has a good time, and comes home safely again at the end of it.

“That is why we will continue to do everything we can to pursue arrests and prosecutions for those that do break the law and risk the safety of other road users.

“We know for some that the prospect of a four-day weekend can make them throw caution to the wind and take chances that they might not otherwise take – like drink driving.

“If you know you will be having a few drinks over the long weekend plan to take a taxi home, get the bus, or nominate someone to be the designated driver who sticks to soft drinks.

“It is never worth the risk and as each person metabolises alcohol differently, there is no such thing as a ‘safe’ amount. Although you may not feel any side effects after one alcoholic drink, it will still be in your system and increases your risk of having an accident.

“Over the summer months officers will be present at check sites across the county to perform drink and drug tests. In addition, during the Jubilee weekend there will be an extra presence of Road’s Policing officers out and about to respond directly to any reports of drink driving.

“Drink driving is fatal.  It is also wholly avoidable – it doesn’t matter what the occasion is -- if you want to enjoy a drink, please don’t drive.”

In recent weeks we have also reported on the following arrests which have resulted in fines and disqualification for the motorists involved:

A 34-year-old man from Worksop received a 23-month driving ban and was fined after he was found to be close to three times the legal drink drive limit.

Shaun Blyth, of Mossdale, Worksop in Nottinghamshire was spotted driving erratically in Crags Road, Whitwell by officers on 4 May. He was arrested and appeared at Northern Derbyshire Magistrates Court on 19 May.

A 38-year-old woman from Tibshelf has also received a 20-month driving ban and fine after she crashed her car into a kerb after going straight over a mini roundabout when drunk. When officers arrived in Mansfield Road, Tibshelf on 13 March they found a silver VW Golf abandoned in the road with damage to the front wheel. Lauren Payne, of Overmoor View, Tibshelf was located at her home a short time later and arrested. Payne was taken into custody and breathalysed where she blew a reading of 111 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath, which is almost three times the legal limit of 35.

You can find out more about the leading causes of serious injury and death on our roads, also known as the Fatal Four, and other road safety advice on our website: Road safety | Derbyshire Constabulary.

If you suspect that someone is driving under the influence please report it to us via one of the following methods:

• Facebook – send us a private message to /DerbyshireConstabulary
• Twitter – direct message our contact centre on @DerPolContact
• Website – complete the online contact form https://www.derbyshire.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us/
• Phone – call us on 101.

You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

If you have footage that may be useful for officers, please ensure it is securely downloaded to another device and kept safely for them to view.