Avon and Somerset Police made 245 arrests during the largest operation carried out in recent years as part of December’s National Police Chiefs’ Council Winter Drink and Drug Driving Operation.

One in three fatal collisions on the roads of Avon and Somerset in the last year have involved drink or drugs as a contributory factor

Of the December arrests, 221 were drink related offences and 39 related to drug use.

A further 12 people were arrested for drink/drug driving on New Year’s Day - nine of these between midnight and 4.30 a.m. with 11 arrests relating to drink and four to drugs.

The 25-34 year old age group accounted for almost a third (82) of arrests, followed by 25-44 year olds (62 arrests). Under 25’s accounted for 47 arrests.

Officers stopped and educated more than 2,000 drivers about drink/drug driving in 55 roadside stop checks across the month, the locations of which were based on information received from the public. As a result, thirteen people provided positive breath tests and four positive drug wipes were obtained. A further 69 other road related offences were also detected.

Patrols were carried out by roads policing, response and neighbourhood officers with police efforts supported by the public, who submitted numerous reports of people drink/driving by telephone and via the Avon and Somerset Police website. The public were also able to report concerns anonymously via Crimestoppers. Each report received immediate response or informed patrols.

Superintendent Paul Underhill, Avon and Somerset Police’s force lead for Road Safety, said: “Drink and drug driving takes lives and devastates families. The repercussions and trauma last for years. That’s why our work to take drink and drug drivers off the road doesn’t stop in January. It remains a priority that we will continue to target every day of the year, with officers making on average 200 arrests a month for these offences.

“It is appalling that despite all the warnings some people selfishly choose to drink or drug drive, putting themselves and others at huge risk on the roads. In the last year alone, our officers had to visit the next of kin of 12 people who are never going to come home again because of a collision in which drink or drugs was a factor.