WEST Mercia Police and Warwickshire Police are supporting the month long winter drink drive campaign with enforcement currently taking place across the region.

To date, 94 people have been arrested across West Mercia and Warwickshire for being under the influence of alcohol or drugs since the start of the campaign on Monday, December 1.

Figures indicate that, over the past three years, 187 people were either killed or seriously injured in the areas following collisions where drink or drugs were recorded as a contributory factor. An additional 715 suffered slight injuries.

Vicki Bristow, communications manager at the Safer Roads Partnership, said: “It’s encouraging that most motorists that have been stopped during the course of the campaign have been under the drink drive limit and we would like to thank those people that have co-operated with roadside checks that have been taking place, however from the results seen so far there are obviously still people out there who feel they can gamble with drinking and driving and think they know how much the limit is or simply don’t care or think they are not going to be caught.

“The simple fact is, there is only one way of being sure that you are safe to drive and that is not to drink at all.

“Any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive. We would ask people to consider other options when out drinking over Christmas, public transport, taxis and using nominated drivers are easy to arrange – drinking and driving simply isn’t worth the risk.”

Superintendent Lee Davenport for Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police, said: “Cracking down on those who take drugs or drink and then drive is a year round commitment for both forces.

“However, we are very aware the festive season can present opportunities where people are tempted to drive after taking drugs of drinking.

“To combat this, extra patrols will be conducted in the run up to and over New Year, in a bid to tackle those who commit the unacceptable act of drinking or drug driving.”