Disturbing reading about drink-drug driving figures

Adrian Troughton’s report (HT, Jan 13) concerning the number of arrests for drink/drug-related driving offences over the Christmas period makes disturbing reading.

The fact that 132 arrests were made during the month of December, virtually unchanged from the previous year – despite lockdown and pub closures – strongly suggests that the law (or its application by the judiciary) is failing to adequately protect other road users and pedestrians from the potential harm caused by intoxicated drivers.

Consequently, more severe penalties are needed to achieve a meaningful deterrent effect.

It is a measure of the dangers posed by alcohol or drug-impaired drivers that one in five of those detained were arrested after already having been involved in a collision. It is impossible to conceive that this is by coincidence.

Another worrying trend is that over 20 per cent of the charges were for drug abuse. Given the prevailing soft approach to so-called “recreational” drug abuse, it seems likely this proportion will continue to rise.

Graham Compton, senior traffic officer for Leicestershire police, in an attempt dissuade drivers from taking to the highway while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, is quoted as saying that anyone convicted can expect, “at the very least”, a 12-month driving ban. Several reports over recent months suggest this “minimum” is rarely exceeded, even in cases when the drug or alcohol levels are extremely high.

The judges or magistrates concerned will doubtless say they are constrained in their decisions by a table of “sentencing guidelines”. If this is indeed the case, then surely it is high time these guidelines were themselves reviewed.

A.Y., Burbage