Drink-driving can be catastrophic, says officer

Insp Bryon Hearsum and Suffolk's emergency services have teamed up to tackle motorists driving under the influence over the festive season

The consequences of driving under the influence of drink or drugs can be "catastrophic", a police officer has warned.

Insp Bryon Hearsum, from Suffolk Police, joined emergency services across the county to back a campaign urging motorists not to drive intoxicated during the festive season.

Suffolk Police said 160 drivers were arrested on suspicion of drink or drug driving in the county in December 2024.

"Would I like to see an increase in terms of the punishment for drink and drug drivers? Yes I would, because the impact is huge," said Insp Hearsum.

"My officers sadly have the terrible duty of giving that knock on the door to tell a family the tragic news a family member will not be returning.

"That is difficult enough at any time of the year, but when they have made preparations to spend time with that individual at Christmas."

Henry Griffin said his father died as a result of a drink-driving incident

Henry Griffin, the deputy chief fire officer at the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, said the fight to stop drink and drug driving on the county's roads was a personal one.

"I lost my father to drink-driving and it has certainly had an impact on me and I don't want anyone to go through that experience," he told the BBC.

"Our crews are trained to respond to these types of incidents but they do not want to be going to these incidents and there is a human and psychological toll on them.

"We see a short snapshot of the impact of a collision - we will be cutting someone out of a car for an hour, but the impact on families and the community lasts a lifetime."

Somewhere between 290 and 320 people were killed in vehicle collisions where a driver was over the drink-drive limit in 2022, according to government data.

Between 2014 and 2023 there was a 70% increase in driver fatalities where drugs were present, according to the Think! road safety scheme.

Tim Passmore, Suffolk's police and crime commissioner, said motorists who drove under the influence of drink and drugs were selfish

Tim Passmore, the police and crime commissioner for Suffolk, said: "There is a very selfish attitude of a tiny minority of people with a cavalier attitude who think they can do what they like and the law doesn't apply to them.

"So, there has to be severe sentences and they have to act as a really strong and powerful deterrent, and I hope people who are caught never ever do it again.

"Drink and drug driving in unacceptable and there is no excuse - the bottom line is don't do it because the misery it can cause is just not worth it."

Andrew Benson said it was frustrating to attend incidents that were avoidable

Andrew Benson, leading operations manager at the East of England Ambulance Service, said crews "witness the tragic consequences every year" of drink and drug driving.

"Our crews will always treat patients with empathy but it is extremely frustrating when you are attending collisions that are avoidable and unnecessary.

"It's horrendous and the consequences are really severe; injuries that change lives and families changed forever - but one decision can prevent a tragedy."

Emergency services in the county have joined forces to support the Drink and Drug Driving Christmas campaign

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said: "While independent judges decide sentences, we are committed to making sure the courts have the sentencing powers to ensure punishments fit the severity of the crime.

"The maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous driving is life."