Christmas drink and drug driving campaign begins

Operation Holly combines educational and enforcement activity until the new year

We’re now in the run up to Christmas this year’s drink and drug driving campaign has been launched.  Operation Holly starts today and runs until the new year.

The campaign by the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit of Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary combines educational and enforcement activity.

As a result of Operation Holly last year 527 breath tests and 105 drug wipes were carried out in the Thames Valley.   27 of the breath tests were positive as were 68 of the drug wipes.

Driving whilst impaired through drink or drugs can be a major contributory factor in increasing the chances of road users being killed or seriously injured in a road traffic collision.

Sergeant Dave Hazlett, Road Safety Sergeant, of the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit, said: “Having even the slightest amount of alcohol or drugs in your system can have an effect on your ability to drive and will make it more likely that you or another road user could be injured, or in the most serious cases, killed.

“Not only is it important to plan how you are going to get home after drinking so that you are not getting behind the wheel, it is also important to plan the morning after.

“It’s always possible that you may still be over the limit the next morning. It can take hours for alcohol to leave your system and some drugs can stay in your system for a considerable amount of time too.

“Therefore, this festive season, please plan your journeys and think about how you are going to get home to prevent the possibility of families facing Christmas and the future without their loved ones.

“Don’t drink or drug drive – It’s not worth the risk.”

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Published: 01/12/2021 02:00pm by Banbury FM Newsteam

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