More bad drivers caught by police during lockdown
MORE people have been caught driving under the influence of drink and drugs in Derbyshire as a result of the Covid restrictions.
Inspector Greg Hunt, of Derbyshire Roads Policing Unit, says officers have been stopping more people breaking the law over the past nine months.
He says he does not think more people are committing offences, but that fewer drivers on the roads makes it easier to spot those who are doing wrong.
Insp Hunt added this was an unexpected benefit of a pandemic that has seen the police forced to change how they operate in order to adhere to Government guidance.
Insp Hunt said other offences, such as speeding, had been cracked down on during the pandemic.
“During lockdown, traffic levels dropped and with that drop people saw roads were emptier and maybe some speed as a result,” he said. “As a result of more speeding happening per month because of lockdowns we’ve had to start enforcing speed more robustly.
“We’ve seen an increase in drinkdrivers and drug-drivers, but that’s probably because we are detecting more of them.
“The number of collisions has dropped, which allows officers to do more proactive patrols.”
The 20-year veteran of the force added that social distancing had not stopped his officers doing their job. “We’ve had to put extra PPE in our vehicles, wear masks and socially distance,” he said.
“It’s impacted a lot – we used to work with Highways England a lot, and we still are, but it’s going on at a higher level.”
He added that despite the nature of the offences his officers often end up dealing with, he does not let it cloud his judgement. “With speeding offences we deal with regular members of the public and it’s the same with drink drivers,” he said. “There’s no anger towards anyone in particular. I get frustrated at anybody that puts other members of the public at risk.” Insp Hunt said officers are constantly on the lookout for people not obeying four key rules of the road. “I’ve asked my officers to deal with the Fatal Four,” he said. “What we find causes the most collisions is drink and drug-drivers, people using mobile phones, speeding and not using seatbelts.
“It’s just being conscious of other road users.
“We are in the festive period – if you feel you are a danger to other road users or if you’ve had a drink and get behind the wheel then you risk meeting my officers.” ■Strange tales from the roads: Page 16