Cumbria Police tackle drink and drug driving before Christmas

Cumbria Police are getting extra training in apprehending people under the influence of alcohol or drugs while driving.

Police departments throughout the UK will be tackling drug and drink driving during the lead-up to Christmas, as the risk of people driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs increases after festive parties.

Police officers are now better equipped to bring charges against impaired drivers, with the availability of ‘drug wipes’. These can test saliva to determine whether an individual has used specific drugs, such as marijuana and cocaine.

Officers also receive training in other ways, to determine whether individuals should be driving on public roads. The methods, called Field Impairment Tests (FITs), consist of six tests. They include asking people to stand on one leg, place a finger on their nose, or examining the person’s eyes.

From 1 December 2016 to 1 January 2017, 48 drivers either refused to take a test or had results showing they exceeded the legal limit for alcohol. During the same period in 2016, 26 drivers failed roadside breath tests.

Chief Inspector Andy Wilkinson stated: “We are committed to getting as many officers as we can trained in the use of drug wipes and administering Field Impairment Tests. Every time one of our officers stops a drug or drink-driver and gets them off the road has the potential to save that person’s life and the lives of other road users and pedestrians. We have reached a point, in 2017, that everyone knows that drink-driving is wrong. Yet there are still those who decide to do it.”