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Drink-drive clampdown

We have probably all heard the famous lyric from the song “In the Summertime” – “have a drink, have a drive, go out and see what you can find”.

Whilst that song might be said to be of its time, nevertheless drink-driving over the summer months has always been concerning, and often innocent victims of drink-drivers end up with life changing injuries through no fault of their own. People have lost loved ones in fatal accidents caused by those who, despite all the evidence, still get behind the wheel having had a drink.

This year the police are implementing increased levels of drink drive enforcement. The average number of breath tests carried out in England and Wales in June over the last five years is 42,996. Other than December when the festive enforcement campaign takes place, an average month usually sees 28,173. So this June may see a 53% increase in testing.

People aren’t safe from the scourge of drink-drivers who take to the road the morning after a night out. Research shows a fifth of all convictions and a third of all breath tests occur between 7.00am and 1.00pm.

Philip Edwards, a serious injury expert with Clarke Willmott said:

Throughout my career, I have often represented individuals who have sustained serious, life changing injuries because of the actions of a drink-driver, and whilst I of course welcome increased police enforcement in the hope that this will deter people from choosing to get behind the wheel after having a drink, the time has come for the minority of people who still behave this way to stop. The real life tragedies we see of someone with catastrophic injuries, or families grieving for the loss of a loved one tell us one thing – there is no excuse for drink driving.

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