100mph drink-driver latest to be stopped as figures rise
MORE DRIVERS APPEAR TO BE IGNORING MESSAGE
A DRINK-DRIVER has been arrested after police spotted a car hurtling along the A6 at over 100mph.
Officers followed the vehicle along the 70mph dual carriageway near Barrow-upon-Soar before they were able to pull it over.
Once stopped, they found the driver under the influence and an arrest was made.
Charnwood police highlighted the incident on social media on Saturday morning, along with a campaign photo that said “Don’t drink and drive”.
The officer said: “Vehicle followed (on) A6 near Barrow at one point in excess of 100mph. Vehicle stopped, driver found to be intoxicated, arrested and off to custody. Driver now facing being disqualified at court.”
The incident is one of more than 60 drink and drug-driving arrests in Leicestershire in December so far.
The sharp rise in the county has sparked growing concerns that more people are ignoring the seasonal road safety message put out by the police and its partners.
The annual Christmas and new year campaign got under way at the start of this month, with officers across the city and county on the lookout for drivers impaired by alcohol and drugs.
Jonathan Clarkson, of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership, which includes the emergency services and councils, is concerned about the latest figures and what they mean.
“As we reached the halfway point of our December drink and drugdrive campaign, we are disappointed to report that far too many drivers are ignoring seasonal road safety messages and choosing to get behind the wheel to put themselves and others at risk,” he said.
“There have been 60 drink and drug-drivers arrested this month, which compares to 53 between December 1 and 14 in 2020.”
Drinking around two pints of regular-strength lager, at about 2.3 units each, will generally put people over the limit, as would two 125ml glasses of wine or two ciders.
But it varies from person to person, so this is only guidance.
According to Brake, in England and Wales it is legal to drive with a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood (80mg/100ml). This is the highest limit in Europe.
But a statement from the organisation said: “There is no failsafe way to tell how much alcohol will put you over the limit, or to convert the BAC limit into how many units you can have: the concentration of alcohol in blood depends on various factors.
“These include your weight, age, gender or how much you have eaten before drinking. That’s why the only safe amount to drink if you’re driving is nothing at all – not a drop.”
A first-time offender found to be over the limit can receive a penalty of six months in prison, an unlimited fine and an automatic driving ban of at least one year.