Hundreds held for drink and drug driving

Hundreds of drivers in Sussex were arrested for drink and drug driving over the Christmas period, according to Sussex Police.

Officers made 261 arrests across Sussex between 1 December and 1 January, a 12% increase on the same period last year.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is one of the main reasons people are killed or seriously injured on roads, police say.

Chief Constable Jo Shiner said: “We continue to urge people to make the right choice by taking steps such as pre-booking a taxi, walking to a venue, or having a designated driver."

She said: “The public can also do their part to persuade a drink-driver not to get behind the wheel, such as by offering to call a taxi, offering them a place to stay instead of drink-driving, and if necessary and safe to do so, by taking the car keys away from them."

During the campaign, police said they found one driver asleep in his van at a busy roundabout and another who reached for mouth wash when approaching a police check site.

Drivers are tested using saliva tests which Sussex police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne says are "more accurate and deliver faster results".

She added: “The rising number of arrests suggests that people still don’t understand the severity of their actions when they choose to get behind the wheel or, worse still, they think they’ll get away with it."

Convicted drink drivers can face a minimum 12-month driving ban or an unlimited ban, a possible prison sentence and a criminal record.

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].