EVERYBODY knows drinking and driving is dangerous, yet so many people continue to do it.

The festive period is considered to be an especially bad time for such offences, hence the start of West Yorkshire Police’s annual crackdown.

All too often, the results of drink or drug driving are tragic and we have all read heart-breaking stories about innocent people being injured or killed.

So it’s only right that boozy drivers who are caught by police before they have a crash face serious consequences – including the loss of their licence, significant fines, not to mention the shame of being convicted.

What’s particularly concerning is the rise in motorists aged over 35 - both men and women - who are being arrested for drink driving. As police have pointed out, these are people who have grown up with the current drink driving laws. Simply put, they should know better.

Let’s hope this year’s police campaign, entitled ‘Not The Usual Suspects’ , will hammer home the message that drink driving is not acceptable for any member of society, irrespective of age, gender or social status.

Operation Steerside - inspired by the Telegraph & Argus - has proved that a wide range of offences take place daily on Bradford’s roads, including speeding, driving without insurance, using a hand-held mobile phone and crossing red lights.

The district can ill afford those existing problems to be exacerbated over Christmas by a sharp rise in drink driving.

The message this year is as clear as ever - it simply isn’t worth the risk.