Drink-drug driving 'could take somebody's life', warns Cambridgeshire Police
The force is continuing its December campaign to crack down on the issue
A police officer in Cambridgeshire has said he doesn't want a repeat of dealing with the consequences drink and drug driving can bring.
Last December, 72 people were arrested on suspicion of these crimes as the force continues to crack down on the issue ahead of Christmas.
As part of its month-long campaign, officers will be carrying out roadside checks across the county.
"I've unfortunately seen the consequences on the road when this (drink/drug driving) happens, and they're the days no officer wants and they happen too regularly," PC Adrian Boddington, casualty reduction officer at Cambridgeshire Police, said.
"Having to turn up to those scenes and knock on those families' doors is very difficult for everybody involved."
Drink or drug driving 'could take somebody else's life'
Forty-three pubs and venues in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have signed up to the force's 'I'm DES' scheme, where those venues taking part give free or discounted soft drinks to designated drivers.
The initiative, led by Huntingdon Business Against Crime through the Vision Zero Road Safety Partnership and funded by Darryl Preston - the county's police and crime commissioner - aims to reduce the number of road collisions caused by drink driving during the festive period.
Mr Boddington said suspected drink and drug drivers can be caught in different ways.
"It could be through our own tuition; it may smell of cannabis or driving in a manner which doesn't appear normal, and it's not until you stop that vehicle and engage with the driver you establish what might be going on," Mr Boddington added.
"Sometimes people focus on 'what could happen, I could get caught and lose my driving licence'; the upper tier to that is you could take your own or somebody else's life as a result, so the gravity of it is quite large."
"If you go out thinking you're going to have one (drink), and unfortunately you have too many and get behind the wheel, you may not have intended to do that when you went out.
"If you've made a plan before you go, you're more likely to stick to it and as a result, you're not going to get behind the wheel."