AS THE summer finally arrives and invites to barbecues and weddings come flooding in, police will be cracking down on motorists who think it's acceptable to drink and drive.
Anyone driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be targeted by both Humberside and Lincolnshire police forces during campaigns being launched this weekend.
During the 2012 summer drink drive campaign in Humberside, officers administered 3,014 breath tests, with 192 – or six per cent – of those testing positive.
A total of 629 tests were administered to under 25s, with 40 being positive, and 2,385 to over 25s, with 152 testing positive.
Police will be carrying out random checks at all times of the day and night, including early in the morning to encourage drivers to think twice about getting behind the wheel after a heavy night.
Humberside roads policing Inspector Mick Dring said: "Year after year, police encounter numerous people who think it is acceptable to have a few drinks and get behind the wheel of a vehicle to drive.
"What they are not considering is that it is not just their lives they put at risk, but also those innocent people who are also using the roads.
"Driving under the influence of drink and/or drugs can significantly impair the ability of any driver, which can often result in severe consequences.
"The role of police officers across Humberside this summer is to continue to educate drivers and change the attitudes of those who think it is ok to use the road after drinking or taking drugs.
"I would also like to continue to ask for the public to help support the police in our attempt to crack down on those who drink drive, by reporting offenders to police.
"Each year people come forward and pass on information which enables officers to catch those who break the law, quickly and efficiently."
In the Lincolnshire Police area, as well as breathalyser checks, Field Impairment Checks will be carried out on those drivers suspected of driving while under the influence of drugs.
A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership said: "We would like to remind everyone they have a responsibility when behind the wheel to ensure they are fit to do so.
"Impairment through drink or drugs carries severe penalties for those convicted and those who refuse testing will suffer the same penalties through the courts.
"When people are enjoying the summer barbecues, we ask them to make provision to travel by nominating a designated driver or pre-arranging a taxi home.
In the past year in Lincolnshire, five people have died following more than 80 drink-related collisions and more than 120 have been injured.
