Drink and drug-driving up despite the pubs being shut

LATEST SIX-MONTHLY FIGURES SHOW A SURPRISING RISE – AND HERE ARE SOME OF THE EXCUSES GIVEN BY THOSE WHO WERE CAUGHT

ROAD safety bosses have revealed statistics that show the number of people arrested for drink or drug-driving is on course to pass the previous year’s total – despite the lockdown closing pubs and fewer cars being on the roads.

Figures collated by Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership show that during the first six months of 2020, police made 633 roadside arrests, consisting of 436 drivers being detained for drink-driving, 159 for drug-driving and 38 who failed to provide a sample.

For the whole of 2019 there were 1,237 arrests, of which 950 were for drink-driving, 216 for drug-driving and 71 failing to provide a sample.

Jonathan Clarkson, spokesman for the partnership, said: “At this rate the total for 2020 would reach 1,266, which is more than the year before when there was no lockdown in place.

“This is particularly concerning as the first six months figure for this year included the first lockdown period from late March, which not only saw overall traffic levels drop by 80 per cent but also the closure of pubs, bars and restaurants.

“Despite the essential travel only messages, which have been with us for a large part of this year, it is quite clear that far too many drivers have continued to ignore lockdown guidance and made the decision to get behind the wheel while impaired by drink or drugs.

“What is most concerning, when we compare the 2020 and 2019 drink and drug-drive arrests, is that despite our continued road safety messages there is still a hardcore minority of motorists who are prepared to take the risks of getting behind the wheel while over the limit.”

Mr Clarkson said he was at a loss to explain why anyone would drive under the influence of drink or drugs.

However, here are six reasons, given in court in the past few months, why drivers were behind the wheel while over the limit in Leicestershire:

‘MY SISTER PARKED CAR ON DOUBLE YELLOW LINES’

A provisional driver caught in his Audi A4 after a night out blamed his sister for parking on doubleyellow lines.

Monish Butpandra said he had come home in the early hours to find the car illegally parked outside his home in Labrador Close, St Matthew’s, Leicester.

Despite having been drinking and the fact he did not have a full driving licence, he got into the car to try to find a legal spot.

He had only gone a few hundred yards and was in Christow Street when the police pulled him over and breathalysed him.

The 23-year-old failed the breath test and was also found to have no insurance and no full licence.

‘FRUSTRATED BY LOCKDOWN’

A drink-driver made a “stupid” decision to get behind the wheel after he became frustrated with being stuck at home by the coronavirus lockdown.

Daniel Rudkin’s in the early hours of August 17 came to an abrupt end when a tyre on his Renault Clio blew and caused the car to crash.

Rudkin, a 31-year-old IT manager, waited for police to arrive at the scene in Blackbird Road, Leicester, and was taken into custody after he failed a roadside breath test.

A further test gave a reading of 60mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath – the legal limit is 35mg. Rudkin, of Larchmont Road, off Blackbird Road, appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court to admit a charge of drink-driving. 34-year-old, of Edward Avenue, Glen Parva, at the roadside about his use of the phone and realised his speech was slurred.

Doran, who works in construction and has been convicted of drink-driving before, failed a roadside test and was arrested.

A drunk soldier nearly crashed into a police car after his vehicle stalled and rolled down a hill.

Mick Honde was more than three times the limit when he was asked by a drunk friend to drive his car home for him. He was not insured to be driving the car.

Honde, 24, who serves as a duty storeman looking after Land Rovers and other Army vehicles, had been driving in Parker Drive, near Abbey Park, in Leicester, when the police officers spotted him, at 10.50pm on Friday, April 10.

At the police station, Honde, of Myrtle Road, Highfields, Leicester, gave a reading of 111 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of

A “dazed and confused” drinkdriver was more than four times the legal limit when he was arrested after he dropped off a patient at a hospital, a court heard.

Barry Palmer was detained outside the A&E department at Leicester Royal Infirmary in June last year and was released on bail to wait for his court appearance.

However, less than three months later and before that hearing could take place, Palmer went back on the road – this time, three times the legal limit – and was caught again. On that occasion, he assaulted one of the police officers attempting to get him to take a breath test.

Palmer, of Humberstone Drive, Leicester, appeared before the city’s magistrates’ court to admit two charges of drink-driving and one of assaulting an emergency worker.

Within our hospitals we are currently treating double the patients with Covid-19 than we did at the height of the first peak. More than a quarter of all our in-patients have the virus. The number requiring intensive care is also significantly higher than we saw during the summer. These are people of all ages and all backgrounds, and not all of them have pre-existing conditions.

This is in addition to the normal increases in seasonal illnesses we usually see at this time of year, with pressure being felt right the way across the local NHS including GP practices and community and mental health services. It also comes at a time when we are working around the clock to administer the Covid-19 vaccine to as many eligible people as possible, as quickly as we can.

It is physically and emotionally exhausting on doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, porters and so many more who witness first hand the terrible effects of Covid. They have worked incredibly long hours, caring for people who are breathless and gasping for life. Too often they have witnessed the tragic death of someone’s husband or wife, mother or father, son or daughter.

We’re working hard to create as much additional capacity as we can, including intensive care, so that we can continue to care for as many patients as possible. But as the number of coronavirus cases goes up so does the risk of our hospitals and other local NHS services being overwhelmed.

We’ve been touched by the support and love shown for our NHS and social care heroes – as well as other frontline workers such our emergency services, teachers and shop assistants – throughout the pandemic. It

Many people have asked us what more they can do to show their support for our staff. Our message is simple: Covid-19 is spreading more easily and more quickly than before. It is vital that we bring infection rates down to curb the spread of the virus and protect patients and local services.

We know lockdown restrictions have been a burden and difficult for many people. We’re grateful that the vast majority have complied with the rules. And whilst we now have a vaccination programme, which offers us the best hope of beating coronavirus, the impact of this will take time. So, for now, we must all carry on acting as though we have the virus to protect ourselves and others.

Don’t think this virus cannot or will not affect you.

Please stay at home as much as you possibly can. Only go out it if it is genuinely essential. If you must go out wear a mask and stay as far away from others as you can, and at least 2 metres wherever possible. Keep on washing your hands thoroughly and regularly.

If you develop symptoms please book a test immediately and stay home until you receive the results. If you test positive you must isolate for 10 days.