Police target drink and drug drivers to cut deaths

Police arrested 140 people during last year's campaign

Surrey Police has launched a month-long campaign to cut the number of people killed or seriously injured by drink and drug drivers over the festive period.

Officers are carrying out "targeted police enforcement" to tackle dangerous driving on the county's roads until 31 December as part of Operation Limit.

Police arrested 140 people for drug driving and 84 for drink driving during Operation Limit last December.

A spokesperson for the force said: "Sadly, the number of serious collisions involving people driving under the influence, especially at this time of year, remains alarmingly high."

This year's campaign also features an online video, which police say is designed to grab the attention of viewers from the outset.

It tells the story of fictional character Gambling Tommy, played by BBC Asian Network presenter Tommy Sandhu, who appears in the video "as if by magic, any time the prospect of drink or drug driving is on the cards".

The force said: "Gambling Tommy reminds motorists of the dire consequences of drink/drug driving.

"Our officers will also be educating road users on the perils of drink/drug driving as part of the campaign."

Between 2022 and 2024, roughly one in every 10 serious or deadly crashes in Surrey was because of drink or drug driving.