Nearly 60,000 drink and drug tests conducted in seasonal crackdown

Breath tests following a collision show nearly 15 per cent of motorists testing positive for alcohol, its highest since 2019

Police officers proactively undertook 58,675 roadside tests for drink and/or drugs on drivers across the UK over the festive period in 2024 (Dec 1, 2024 to Jan 1, 2025) as part of the nationally coordinated Operation Limit crackdown, which sees 45 police forces across England, Wales and Northern Ireland working together.

Intelligence and hotspot-led, roadside breath tests for alcohol saw nearly ten per cent of drivers testing positive (9.7 per cent) with drug wipes resulting in 42.2 per cent positive tests.

In total, 2,782 drivers were arrested for both drink and drug-driving offences, almost double the number from previous years’ national operations.

While many tests during Operation Limit were proactive stops, tests following a collision showed 14.5 per cent of motorists testing positive for alcohol, the highest in these circumstances since 2019.

Unfortunately this trend aligns with data from the Department for Transport (DfT) which also shows a rise in alcohol-related collisions, said the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).

The figures prompted warnings from senior officers about the risks of driving under the influence, a “selfish and reckless” decision that costs too many lives each year.

Men continue to be disproportionately represented, making up 85 per cent of the offences for driving under the influence of drink or drugs and 79 per cent of offenders were 25 years of age or older.

Chief Superintendent Marc Clothier, NPCC operational lead for Operation Limit, said:  “In 2023, 19.6 per cent of fatal collisions were assigned at least one drink or drugs-related factor. That’s pretty much 20 per cent of road deaths caused by drink or drugs, with a significant number occurring in December – two facts which are completely unacceptable and which make Operation Limit so important.

“Now in its third year of running as a national operation, the Christmas drink and drug driving crackdown brings together all police forces in a positive coordinated effort to tackle this driving behaviour.

“The statistics of positive results and the demographics of offenders remain consistent and what is encouraging is to see the dedication and innovation which policing puts into this operation across the country. Many forces collaborate on a regional level, working cross border and strengthening their resources as a result.

“In addition, we are seeing the numbers of collisions in December specifically as a result of drink or drug-driving reduce each year, remaining consistently at the levels experienced during Covid when far less drivers were on the roads.

“While there will be many factors impacting this fall, we can certainly draw a link between policing’s increased focus and enforcement activity to tackle drink and drug-driving over this time of year.

“The decision to get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol or drugs is reckless and selfish and it will not be tolerated. Not only do you risk your own life but you seriously endanger everyone else on the road and the tragic impact of your decision will be felt by individuals, families, friends and whole communities.”

Association of Police and Crime Commissioners lead for drink and drug-driving, police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Durham Joy Allen, said: “With responsibility for supporting victims, PCCs see and deal with the devastating impact of drink and drug driving.

“The Operation Limit results show that more intensive enforcement works. We want to see more resource invested in roads policing and the appropriate use of tougher penalties for drink and drug driving, including immediate bans and full cost recovery of the costs from offenders, to act as a greater deterrent and protect the public.”