Police have arrested a further 14 drivers on suspicion of drink or drug driving from Friday 15 December to Wednesday morning 20 December. Worryingly 9 of these arrests were made when officers were called to reports of collisions and as part of standard procedure, the drivers were tested for drink and drugs.   This includes:-

• A 36 year old man from Stratford-upon-Avon who was arrested at 18.40hours on 15 December after police were called to a damage only collision on Alcester Road in the town. Officers arrived and requested a roadside breath test and after four failed attempts where officers believe he was not blowing into the tube, he was arrested on suspicion of failing to provide a specimen for analysis.  He was later charged to appear before Warwickshire Magistrates on 2 February 2024.
• A 32 year old man from Stratford-upon-Avon was arrested at 19.06hours on 16 December on Sheep Street after police were called to a two vehicle collision. Information was provided by a member of the public that they suspected one of the drivers had been drinking. He was identified by officers and failed a road side breath test.  He was later charged with drink driving to appear before Warwickshire Magistrates on 26 January.
• A 26 year old man from Cheltenham was arrested at 21.10hours on 17 December on Billesley Road, Aston Cantlow after officers were called to reports of a vehicle in a ditch at the location. Officers arrived to find a car in the hedge with the driver still in the car.  He refused to provide a breath test and was later charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis and is due to appear before Warwickshire Magistrates on 2 February.
• A 45 year old man from Bedworth was arrested at 20.45hours on 16 December after he was identified as the driver of a car involved in a He failed a roadside breath test and was later charged with drink driving to appear at Warwickshire Magistrates Court on 2 February.
• A 42 year old woman from Leicester was arrested at 01.39hours on 17 December on New Street, Bulkington after police were called to a collision. A member of the public assisted officers in identifying the driver who had collided with stationary vehicles.  She provided a positive breath test and was charged with drink driving, driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance.  Due to the seriousness of the offences, she appeared a Coventry Magistrates on 18 December where she pleaded guilty and was remanded on conditional bail for a pre sentence report to be prepared.  She will next appear at Coventry Magistrates Court on 16 January 2024.
• An 80 year old woman from Nuneaton was arrested at 22.48hours on 17 December after police were called to a single vehicle collision on Hinckley Road, Nuneaton where a driver had driven into a barrier. She failed to provide a breath test and was charged to appear at Warwickshire Magistrates Court on 2 February.
• A 38 year old man from Cubbington, Leamington Spa, and a 55 year old man from Coventry were arrested at approximately 12.30hours on 18 December, after two calls from the public reporting a single vehicle collision on the M45 Dunchurch island Rugby. Police arrived to find two people sitting on the grass verge with a dog.  Both men denied being the driver.  The 38 year old man failed a roadside breath test and was arrested.  He was also later arrested for assault on an emergency worker and for taking the vehicle without consent.
• The 55 year old man was arrested for failing to provide a specimen for analysis. He was also arrested on suspicion of taking a motor vehicle without consent.  Following questioning, both men have been  released on bail pending further enquiries.
• A 53 year old woman from Nuneaton was arrested at 19.26hours on 18 December after police were called to a collision where a driver had crashed their car into a lamppost and a stationary vehicle on Limes Coppice, Nuneaton. Officers arrived and she was asked to provide  a breath test which she failed.  She was later charged with drink driving and will appear before Warwickshire Magistrates on 9 February.

Other arrests include

• A 67 year old man from Barford who was arrested at 00.39hours on 17 December after a member of the public rang police to report a suspected drink driver. Officers arrived and he was arrested and later charged with drink driving to appear before Warwickshire Magistrates on 2 February.
• A 26 year old man from Birmingham was arrested at 20.23hours on 17 December on the M40 southbound services after officers stopped his car. He refused to provide a road side drug swipe and was arrested on suspicion of failing to provide a specimen for analysis, possession of a Class A drug and possession of a class B or C drug.  He has been released on police bail pending further enquiries.
• A 37 year old man from Birmingham was arrested at 20.15hours on 15 December on Saltisford, Warwick after his vehicle was stopped by officers for a moving traffic offence. He provided a positive drug swipe for cannabis and was arrested on suspicion of driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs.  He has been released on bail pending the results of further tests.
• A 39 year old man from Rugby was arrested at 04.47hours on 16 December on Windsor Street, Rugby when officers observed his manner of driving and followed his vehicle. He was stopped by officers and asked to provide a roadside breath test which he failed.  He has been charged with drink driving to appear before Warwickshire Magistrates on 2 February.
• A 27 year old man from Nuneaton was arrested at 00.20hours on 17 December on Attleborough Road, Nuneaton after he pulled out in front of an unmarked police car. Officers stopped his vehicle due to a moving traffic offence and he failed a roadside breath test. He has since been charged with drink driving to appear at Warwickshire Magistrates Court on 2 February.

Sergeant Simon Dalby said “Fortunately no-one was seriously injured in the 9 collisions we attended where the drivers have been arrested on suspicion of drink or drug driving but this is not always the case. In 2020, drink drivers killed or injured an estimated 6,500 people on the UK’s roads. 

“We are asking the public to please help to keep our roads safer for everyone by calling out your friends and relatives who think nothing of getting behind the wheel when they’ve had a drink or two. Please encourage them to plan ahead and nominate a driver, pre book a taxi or go somewhere within walking distance of home.“

Officers are continuing their increased patrols over the Christmas and New Year period to continue to arrest suspected drink and drug drivers.