WEST Yorkshire Police is looking to challenge people's perceptions with its annual crackdown on drink-driving over the festive period.

The force is supporting the national drink drive campaign, titled 'Not The Usual Suspects', reminding people that it is not only young men who commit offences in the run-up to Christmas and beyond.

The campaign uses deliberately stereotypical characters to challenge the public perception about those they think may be drink driving this December, and gives a stark reminder for people to not drive after drinking alcohol.

　

The crackdown officially begins today and runs until January 1.

Sergeant Gary Roper of the Force's Roads Policing Support Unit said: "Driving while under the influence of drink or drugs is always a significant danger, but at Christmas the risks are even more prevalent with darker nights, bad weather and sadly, more people taking the risk by drinking or using drugs and then getting behind the wheel.　

"Statistically, young men do form a large proportion of those whom we stop for drink driving, however we are seeing more and more men, and increasingly women aged over 35 who are drink driving, many with the attitude 'it'll never happen to me.'

"It is quite harrowing as many of the people in this age range have been targeted by decades of campaigns about the dangers of drinking before getting behind the wheel.

"Last December, 43 per cent of everyone we arrested for drink driving offences were aged over 35.　

"These are people from all backgrounds, ethnicity and genders. Many of them have professional careers, they may have children and grandchildren and yet they are still choosing to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. "We want to continue to drive home the message and make drink driving socially unacceptable no matter how old you are.　

"Each year we stop hundreds of people who are clearly not in a fit state to drive through drink or drugs. The 2016 campaign is about hammering home the message that on a daily basis people across West Yorkshire are risking theirs and other people's lives and that drink or drug driving has extremely serious consequences.

"The effect of a drink driving conviction can be devastating. Drivers are three times more likely to die in a road traffic collision if they have been drinking.

"In my time as an officer, I have seen people lose their job, career and relationships. If you're going out to drink any amount please leave your car keys at home or allocate a designated driver.

"The number of drink driving charges is decreasing nationally, which is a step in the right direction.

"While we would like to think that this is because people are more aware of the dangers of getting behind the wheel after a few drinks, the reality is that the decline is small and there are still plenty of people out there willing to take the risk."

Officers arrested a total of 239 people across the county for drink and drug driving offences during last December's crackdown. Of that number, 157 - 126 men and 31 women - were charged, down from 183 people in 2014.

Bradford had 34 offenders, behind Leeds with 54, and ahead of Kirklees with 31, Wakefield with 29, and Calderdale with ten.

A conviction for driving while under the influence of drink and drugs will lead to a criminal record, a driving ban of at least a year, and a fine up to £5,000.　

Mark Milsom, Assistant Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, said: ‘"During the last few years we have seen the number of arrests for drink and drug driving related offences for both men and women aged over 35 increase. These are people that have grown up with the current drink driving laws and it's a very concerning trend.　

"It's vitally important these people, many of whom will have careers and who may have a young family, realise the life-limiting consequences associated with a drink or drug driving conviction.　

"There's also the very real dangers associated with not being fit to drive. Each year we deal with a number of fatal or very serious incidents in which driving while under the influence of drink or drugs has been a major factor.

"This has led to the deaths of innocent drivers and pedestrians and the awful task many officers have of standing on a family's doorstep and telling them that someone's never coming home.　

"My hope is that by challenging the public perception about drink drivers that we demonstrate yet again, the real risk everyone takes after drink or drug driving when they get behind the wheel."　

Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, added: "At the end of the day, the consequences far out way any benefit an individual may see before driving while unfit and it’s simply not worth the risk to you or the people around you.

"I hope that this campaign will remind people of what’s important at this time of year and it’s certainly isn’t risking your life and the lives around you.　

"We want to ensure everyone has a great time over this festive period and no-one is affected by a drink or drug driver."

As part of the campaign, West Yorkshire Police will be releasing weekly figures on the numbers of people arrested for drink driving across the county.

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