Macc no longer county’s drink-driving capital
THE new year has started with some good news for Macclesfield - it has lost its tag as Cheshire’s drink and drug driving hotspot.
According to police figures from its Christmas crackdown, 17 motorists were arrested for drinkdriving and six for drugdriving.
The operation ran from
December 1 to January 1 and resulted in 230 arrests county-wide.
Figures are then broken down by local policing unit.
For the last two years Macclesfield came top with 28 arrests for drinkdriving and 18 for drugdriving 12 months ago.
But this time the area was fourth highest out of nine for drink-driving and fifth for drug-driving.
Across Cheshire the overall figure of both combined was 230, up slightly from 227 last year.
Superintendent Jo Marshall-Bell, from Cheshire Police’s roads and crime unit, said: “For motorists to get behind the wheel after having an alcoholic drink or taking drugs, even though they know the risks could be fatal, baffles me.
“We do not go out policing the roads for the sake of it – we are doing it to save lives.
“If you are willing to put yours or innocent road users lives at risk then we will take action, and 230 people in Cheshire will face the consequences of their reckless and selfish actions.”
Macclesfield was replaced as the county’s hotspot by Crewe, which was highest for both drink and drug driving with 34 and 19 respectively.
Chester also fared badly for drug-driving (18) as did Warrington for drink-driving (24).
According to police the most common age range for those arrested was 35-39.
Supt Marshall-Bell said: “Making Cheshire’s roads as safe as possible is of upmost importance to me and my team and rest assured, we will continue to target those road users intent on committing offences.”
The other five areas are Widnes, Ellesmere Port, Northwich, Runcorn and the motorway.
‘We do not go out policing the roads for the sake of it – we are doing it to save lives’