Over 500 drink and drug driving arrests during month of action in Essex
Drug driving arrests reached their highest monthly figure since January 2017
Essex Police has revealed the outcomes of its December 2025 road safety campaign, Operation Limit, targeting drink and drug drivers across the county.
The operation resulted in 511 offences being identified.
Adam Pipe, Head of Roads Policing at Essex Police, described drug driving as an “epidemic” and stressed the need for continued focus on road safety.
“The number of arrests is staggering and highlights a significant risk on our roads,” Pipe said, adding that Essex Police is committed to reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on the roads.
The campaign included five dedicated days of action at key sites, alongside daily patrols.
It led to 103 drink driving arrests in December alone, bringing the annual total for 2025 to 1,008.
Drug driving arrests reached their highest monthly figure since January 2017, with 307 individuals detained, contributing to an annual total of 1,874 arrests.
Additionally, 101 arrests were made under Operation Limit for people unfit to drive or failing to provide specimens, part of an annual total of 936 such arrests.
Pipe emphasized the growing concern around the misuse of a wider range of drugs, including ketamine, alongside more traditional substances like cocaine and cannabis.
He explained that Essex officers are increasingly employing field impairment tests to identify drivers affected by drugs or alcohol.
Operation Limit also highlighted broader risks, with officers noting that impaired drivers often present other concerns.
Arrests included drivers in possession of illegal items, uninsured and unlicensed drivers, and those involved in additional criminal activity.
Among notable arrests were:
A drug driver found with a knuckleduster
A provisional licence holder with no insurance or MOT, arrested for drug driving with passengers, including a child
A drunk driver travelling the wrong way around a roundabout
A disqualified driver in a cloned van caught for drug driving
Pipe also spoke about how enforcement ties into a more holistic approach, stating, “Taking someone off the road is sometimes just the first step in a longer process. We work with partner agencies to address wider issues, such as alcohol dependency or domestic abuse.”
The release of these figures coincided with the launch of the Department for Transport’s new Road Safety Strategy on 7th January 2026.
Proposed measures include lowering the alcohol limit for driving in England from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath to 22, and introducing interim disqualifications for drug-positive drivers, as well as restrictions for young and inexperienced drivers.
Pipe urged public support for continued enforcement efforts into 2026:
“As a society, we should reflect on the harm that this is causing us all. December’s operation may be over, but our work hasn’t ended. With your support, we can continue this.”