More than 160 arrested for drink and drug-driving
Cumbria PoliceMore than 160 motorists were arrested on suspicion of drink or drug-driving offences in Cumbria during December.
Cumbria Police said 94 drivers were detained for drug-driving offences while 50 and 21 were respectively arrested on suspicion of drink-driving or failing to either provide a specimen for analysis or comply with a drugs wipe.
Despite being lower than the 206 arrests recorded for December 2004, Cumbria Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner David Allen said the "high numbers were disappointing".
He added it was "highly probable" the operation "stopped at least one family's Christmas from being ruined due to a loved one being injured or killed by a driver who was over the limit".
Insp Jack Stabler, from Cumbria Police, said the operation saw a "similar number of arrests this year for drink-driving, with a reduction in the number of drivers caught drug-driving" compared to 2024.
Stabler said: "Whilst I hope that this may be a sign that the penny is dropping for some people and that they are becoming more aware of the dangers of drug-driving... I can assure the public that, as we begin a new year, there will be no let-up in our commitment to targeting dangerous drivers."
Allen added that the operation "potentially stopped fatal and serious collisions from taking place".
"I'd like to remind people that drugs also stay in your system longer, so even if you haven't ingested drugs in a few days, it may still appear in a roadside drugs test if you are pulled over," he said.
