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Drink-drive crackdown

9:49am Monday 1st December 2008

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Police in Sussex have arrested more than 80 people for drink driving in the past fortnight.

Officers are carrying out early morning and late night patrols in the run up to Christmas.

Motorists are being breathalysed randomly across the county and 1,641 have been breath tested, with 82 arrests.

The crackdown comes as road safety chiefs announced a £1.6 million campaign.

Inspector Phil Clarke said: “We carry out our checks early in the morning when people are often attempting to drive home after a night’s drinking and late at night when some people decide to drive home in the middle of a night’s drinking.”

The roads policing unit has targeted drink driving hotspots in Brighton and Hove, Polegate, the West Downs and the North Downs areas. Insp Clarke said: “My concern is that a significant number of those drivers arrested were ‘the morning after’ and a considerable number of drivers are providing evidential samples of at least double the legal limit to drive. Some are three or four times over the limit.

“This shows a blatant disregard for their own safety and the safety of others and a contemptuous attitude to the law, a law that is intended to save lives and prevent serious injury.

“The misery created by road deaths is incalculable but such incidents are compounded when they occur over or during the run up to the festive season.”

Under the new nationwide Think! campaign more motorists caught driving under the influence may face a six-month prison sentence as well as an automatic disqualification.

Insp Clarke said: “The majority of the people we catch are not borderline. They are well over the limit and are hardened drink drivers who do it regularly.

“What people don't realise is it doesn’t make a difference if you're good at drink driving and it doesn’t show. Everyone who is involved in an accident, even if it’s not their fault, will be tested for alcohol consumption.”

Have you been breath tested as part of the latest drive? Tell us below.

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Your Say YourThe Argus

Human Machine, Portslade says...
10:52am Mon 1 Dec 08

No it isn't...anyone convicted of drink driving is instantly banned, and quite rightly so. I object to anyone being done for being 5mph over the limit at 3am on a motorway but our drink driving laws are, at least, sensible.

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Brigadier Monty, Burgess Hill says...
11:30am Mon 1 Dec 08

Well I have two drinks and drive, still within the limit. I do speed also, regularly, and have never been caught either. I do 90 mph on the motorway, but then who does not?? I pay all my taxes and insurance so why can I not safely drive over 90mph? I don't really care about speed limits. I don't do 70 in a 30, but then who does not speed??

Drunk drivers should be locked up as it should not be done!!!

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psychoderek, Southwick says...
12:14pm Mon 1 Dec 08

Driving while on a mobile phone is more dangerous than an experienced drinker half a pint over the limit so ban them as well

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Osama bin there, Brighton says...
12:51pm Mon 1 Dec 08

Drunk drivers are a menace in a way that drivers who commit other misdemeanours are not. They are rightfully banned from driving for at least a year.
Brigadier Monty is right. Everyone speeds to some extent.
It's just not the same as driving when you can hardly stand up.

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davyboy, abingdon, oxon says...
1:02pm Mon 1 Dec 08

whilst i agree with most of the comments here, briadier monty is an idiot(even if he is trying to be funny). drink-driving kills, simple as that. any alcohol in your blood will slow down your reactions. the limit should be zero, as in sweden. phones are almost as bad. these figures do not surprise me at all, as people don't think of the consequences. it's always me, me, me, and sod everyone else. the minute you are caught drink-driving you should be looking at a minimum of 3 year ban with immediate effect. if the breath test proves positive at the police station, ie the one they use in court, there should be no need for a court case, just an instant ban. when folk realise that a ban will be instant, maybe they will think twice. jobs and lives are on the line, SO DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE. GET IT!!!!!!

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Human Machine, Portslade says...
1:28pm Mon 1 Dec 08

I disagree...I hardly think a glass of wine is going to affect your driving seriously, not unless you're driving like an idiot - i.e. up the backside of the car in front, etc. The current restrictions are fine. The problem is with people who think the law does not apply to them.

If the drink drive limit is about a pint and a half, the law-abiding man will have a pint and a half and then drive home. The drink-driver will have ten pints and then drive home.

If the limit is half a pint, the law-abiding man will have half a pint and then drive home. The drink-driver will have ten pints and then drive home.

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PB, Steyning says...
1:35pm Mon 1 Dec 08

After a couple of pints, or a glass of wine, I am convinced that I am a much better driver.

But when I'm totally sober, then I know I'm not.

The drink drive limit should be zero.

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Osama bin there, Brighton says...
1:43pm Mon 1 Dec 08

'The drink drive limit should be zero.'

The drink drive law is fine as it is. If you think you can't drive properly after one glass of wine - then don't. That's common sense.

I'm all for the current law being enforced with extreme prejudice, and I don't see a need for a change.

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davyboy, abingdon, oxon says...
2:16pm Mon 1 Dec 08

Human Machine wrote:
I disagree...I hardly think a glass of wine is going to affect your driving seriously, not unless you're driving like an idiot - i.e. up the backside of the car in front, etc. The current restrictions are fine. The problem is with people who think the law does not apply to them.

If the drink drive limit is about a pint and a half, the law-abiding man will have a pint and a half and then drive home. The drink-driver will have ten pints and then drive home.

If the limit is half a pint, the law-abiding man will have half a pint and then drive home. The drink-driver will have ten pints and then drive home.
it has been shown that even a small amount of alcohol will impair your abilities so i maintain that the limit should be zero. different people's bodies deal with alcohol in different ways, so to be safe, make it zero. then we all know where we stand. it works in sweden, where if you are caught, then a ban and jail follows.

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feline1, Brighton says...
2:48pm Mon 1 Dec 08

psychoderek wrote:
Driving while on a mobile phone is more dangerous than an experienced drinker half a pint over the limit so ban them as well
they ARE banned, you eejit!

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Pat Mustard, Hove says...
4:06pm Mon 1 Dec 08

feline1 wrote:
psychoderek wrote: Driving while on a mobile phone is more dangerous than an experienced drinker half a pint over the limit so ban them as well
they ARE banned, you eejit!
Three points and £60.00 is all you get unless you cause a major incident!

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Gentleman Jim, North Brighton says...
11:28pm Mon 1 Dec 08

It matters not whether you think the speed limit is reasonable,its the law and you either obey it or pay the penalty,I hope the police keep up their checks throughout the year so that driving becomes safer for all of us.

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sussex2, shoreham says...
4:27am Tue 2 Dec 08

Brigadier Monty wrote:
Well I have two drinks and drive, still within the limit. I do speed also, regularly, and have never been caught either. I do 90 mph on the motorway, but then who does not?? I pay all my taxes and insurance so why can I not safely drive over 90mph? I don't really care about speed limits. I don't do 70 in a 30, but then who does not speed?? Drunk drivers should be locked up as it should not be done!!!
Move to the mainland mate! In most of the EU the drinking limit is far less than in the UK, and two drinks would definitely take you over the limit, and probably does in the UK.In addition they have proper random breath tests, no one knows where and when they will be. You are simply told to get in the back of a van and give a breath sample, any time night and day. I was even on a bus and the driver had to do such a test, no one thought it even remarkable.
In some countries though you are heavily fined (including civil penalties) you do not always loose your licence on the first offence.
If you are serious you are courting disaster and a loss of your licence as the UK law stands.

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Osama bin there, Brighton says...
9:18am Tue 2 Dec 08

The fact remains that the vast majority of drivers don't drive over the limit. This was not the case 20 years ago - so things have changed for the better. The reason is mostly that it has become socially unacceptable.
There is still a hardcore of stupid, antisocial idiots who are prepared to take a chance - both with their own lives, their passengers and other road users. It goes without saying that they are mostly younger drivers.
These people should get much more than a years ban. How about a minimum of 3 years and also having to retake your test - even on the first offence?

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chris elmes, shoreham by sea says...
9:41am Tue 2 Dec 08

Got stopped A259 on Wed 26th Nov,at approx 22:35 after a pint at JBs passed and went on my way home after a lecture by plod, I know I'd had a beer and did not need their advice to take care on my motorcycle.
PS random tests aren't lawful but then plod will (in my opinion) fabricate a reason eg your brake lights don't work as you pull up IN FRONT OF THEM and they haven't even seen the back of your vehicle.

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Wilftop, Brighton says...
4:20pm Tue 2 Dec 08

I cannot believe in this day & age people actually haven't got the message about drunk driving.

Sad as my Brother in law is a firemen & see's the results of when it goes wrong, attended the scene of a whole family being whiped out who's kids were the same age as my niece & nephew one year because of a drunk driver. That was a sobering Christmas. It's not worth the risk.

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greeg, glasgow says...
12:58am Sat 6 Dec 08

Folks,
most people who are involved in an accident through drink driving,"incidentall
y,it used to be called drunk driving",are way,way over the limit,not just over it. What's the point in"lowering the ante" on the amount of alcohol allowed?It won't stop people drinking what they're gonna'' drink and it won't cut down the amount of alcohol related accidents.
Don't quote Swedish statistics as they've only a fifth of the population of England.

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Drivers are being stopped for random tests and after accidents Drivers are being stopped for random tests and after accidents

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