WEST Yorkshire Police is warning about the very real, and potentially fatal, consequences of getting behind the wheel after drinking or taking drugs this summer.

The Force is supporting the national coordinated drink and drug driving enforcement campaign which runs from Monday, August 22 to Sunday, August 28.

Motorists should be aware though that road policing officers take action all year round to tackle this inconsiderate and dangerous behaviour.

As part of the campaign, the Force is releasing dashcam footage from a police vehicle showing a drunk driver who was found to be four times the legal limit.

Chief Inspector Claire Patterson, said: “It is easy to go over the limit having drinks at a friend’s BBQ or soaking up the sun in a beer garden. Our advice is to plan ahead and think about how you are going to get home. There is always an alternative to driving whilst under the influence.

“At the very least you face losing your licence and potentially your livelihood if you are caught drink or drug driving, but the cold, hard reality is that drink and drug driving does kill.

"Our officers see the catastrophic aftermath of the mentality of ‘I’ll be ok to drive.’ Please don’t let us be knocking on the door of your loved one, all for the sake of taking drugs or having a few drinks.”

During the campaign, West Yorkshire Police’s Roads Policing Unit will be tweeting details of arrests for drink and drug driving on the @WYP_RPU account.

If you have information about someone who drives after drinking or taking drugs then you can report it online using our dedicated drink/drug driving reporting form.

If there is a crime in progress, then you should always call 999. 

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