More drug drivers than drink drivers - Surrey police

Surrey Police arrested 32 people for drug driving in the first half of December

More drivers have been arrested for drug driving offences than drink driving in December, according to Surrey Police.

The findings come as part of Operation Limit, a month-long campaign which sees the force randomly stopping cars at designated stop sites to breathalyse or drug swab where necessary.

In the first half of December, 1127 vehicle stops were made, 465 breath tests and 117 drug wipes used, and 53 arrests made, 32 of which were for drug driving.

"We do get quite a lot of reports from people which is good for us because we can't be everywhere all the time," said Sgt Dan Ayrton from Surrey's Roads Policing Unit.

On a ride-along with Surrey Police, the first drink driving call came at 09:15 GMT

"It's good for us to have members of the public who are willing to call and let us know."

On a BBC London ride-along with Surrey Police, Sgt Ayrton's first drink driving call of the day came at 09:15 GMT.

"It's a report that's come in for a female that's left a pub, allegedly been drinking all night and has left in her vehicle," he said.

"We're just trying to make it across the county to try to intercept her.

"We're utilising some of the technology that's available to us to try and track where she might be going".

Operation Limit involves officers randomly stopping cars at designated stop sites to breathalyse or drug swab drivers where necessary

Sgt Ayrton caught up with the driver and a breathalyser was used, but the woman in question was not over the limit.

The legal alcohol limit for driving in England is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

Factors such as weight, age, metabolism, and the amount of food you've eaten determine how much you can drink and stay under the limit.

This means each person's limit differs and police advise that the only safe option is to not drink any alcohol if driving.

"Whilst we're looking to educate about drink and drug driving there are a lot of other offences that we pick up whilst doing these check sites," said Sgt Ayrton.

"We've taken two drivers off the road today who are uninsured."

In 2023 the force's road's team made 205 arrests throughout December, 72 for drink driving, 118 for drug driving and the rest for a combination.

"I personally don't want to have to send any officers, or knock on anybody's door over the Christmas period, to say that their loved one has been killed by a drink driver," said Sgt Ayrton.

"We do everything we can to try to minimise that."