With Christmas parties around the corner and festivities in full swing, Merseyside Road Safety Partnership (MRSP) are reminding people how to stay safe over the festive period.
Since lockdown restrictions eased in March, the number of people who have been arrested for driving under the influence has steadily been on the rise.
According to figures from MSRP, 150 people were arrested for the offence in just one month earlier this year.
The increase in offences related to drunk/drug driving are often elevated during the festive period due to more people going out and celebrating.
Melanie Burrows, road safety team leader at St. Helens Council, told Merseynewslive: “Socially people will go out and meet with family and do things they don’t necessarily do throughout the year.
People tend to come together and there are Christmas parties and office parties, so I think that’s why there is an increase.”
During last year’s Christmas period, officers in Merseyside made 306 arrests in connection with their Christmas drink and drug driving campaign.
An event on Paradise Street last Thursday saw Merseyside Road Safety teams from across the region coming together and working with fire teams to deliver an important message.
The team were seen giving out free breathalysers and measure cups along with gifts and bottle tags.
All in the spirit of spreading the message of getting home safely to loved ones at this time of year.
A member of the team told Merseynewslive: “We’re raising awareness about the morning after, so we know that most people don’t drink and then drive home, but they might be getting in the car to soon the next morning!
“We’re just trying to show people how long alcohol stays in the system.”
Paul Mountford, Casualty Reduction Officer for the partnership said: “Officers conduct roadsides tests morning, afternoon and evening and arrest countless drivers every month throughout the year.”
He added: “Through December and January though, additional resources are put into that. If you’ve been drinking the night before there’s a real chance you could end up with a fine, a ban or a prison sentence.”
