Police launch crackdown

Motorists are being warned not to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs this Christmas.

Police launched their annual crackdown on drink- and drug-driving this month and will breathalyse “at every opportunity” in a bid to reduce the number of casualties and deaths on the roads.

Figures given to the Kent Messenger by the force reveal the highest number of drink-drivers arrested in any single month last year was in December, when 183 arrests were made, compared with between 119 and 159 in other months.

So far this year, 1,388 drinkdrive arrests have been made.

Insp Sam Pearson, from Kent Police’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “Drivers should never get behind the wheel if they’ve had alcohol and this is something we remind motorists of regularly, not just at Christmas. However, at a time of year when many people are out socialising, it is important we reinforce the message. Many lives are lost each year as a result of driving when intoxicated.”