A police blitz finds a tenth of drivers stopped failed alcohol tests and almost half of those tested failed drug checks.
In 2014, there were 240 killed in crashes attributed to drunk drivers
A summer blitz has caught thousands of drunk and drugged drivers, police have said.
There were 45,000 breath tests carried out in England, Wales and Northern Ireland between 10 June and 10 July.
Of those, 4,539 were found to be positive, refused - meaning the driver would not take the test - or failed, which means the test was taken but was not enough to determine a result.
During the same time period, police screened 2,588 drivers for drugs and 1,028 of those tests came back positive.
Police can also use a "field impairment assessment" on drivers they suspect to have used drugs - 279 of these tests were done and 80 arrests were made.
The results come a year after a similar blitz but this year's resulted in fewer cars being stopped but a larger proportion of arrests.
The levels for the illegal drugs, which include heroin, cocaine and cannabis, virtually mean there will be zero tolerance for drivers apprehended with these substances in their system.
Around 200 people are killed on roads each year in Britain because of drugged drivers.
In 2014, there were 240 killed in crashes attributed to drunk drivers, with around 8,500 injured.
Gary Rae, of road safety charity Brake, said: "The latest national figures from the police show worrying signs, with a large drop in the amount of people being tested but an increase in those who tested positive, failed or refusing the test."
Chief Constable Suzette Davenport, national lead for roads policing, said: "Even though this has been a successful summer campaign, it is still disappointing to see during the campaign over 4,500 people drink driving and over 1,000 people driving whilst under the influence of drugs.
"We remind those who drive when intoxicated that police forces across the country are better equipped than ever before to detect and prosecute drivers who ignore the law."
She added: "We continue to see the benefit of the new drug-driving law and swab kits with nearly 40% of those being screened testing positive at the road-side and being prevented from causing harm to other road users."
Πηγή: http://news.sky.com
Of those, 4,539 were found to be positive, refused - meaning the driver would not take the test - or failed, which means the test was taken but was not enough to determine a result.
During the same time period, police screened 2,588 drivers for drugs and 1,028 of those tests came back positive.
Police can also use a "field impairment assessment" on drivers they suspect to have used drugs - 279 of these tests were done and 80 arrests were made.
The results come a year after a similar blitz but this year's resulted in fewer cars being stopped but a larger proportion of arrests.
The levels for the illegal drugs, which include heroin, cocaine and cannabis, virtually mean there will be zero tolerance for drivers apprehended with these substances in their system.
Around 200 people are killed on roads each year in Britain because of drugged drivers.
Video:
March: Roadside Drug Driving Test
Gary Rae, of road safety charity Brake, said: "The latest national figures from the police show worrying signs, with a large drop in the amount of people being tested but an increase in those who tested positive, failed or refusing the test."
Chief Constable Suzette Davenport, national lead for roads policing, said: "Even though this has been a successful summer campaign, it is still disappointing to see during the campaign over 4,500 people drink driving and over 1,000 people driving whilst under the influence of drugs.
"We remind those who drive when intoxicated that police forces across the country are better equipped than ever before to detect and prosecute drivers who ignore the law."
She added: "We continue to see the benefit of the new drug-driving law and swab kits with nearly 40% of those being screened testing positive at the road-side and being prevented from causing harm to other road users."
Πηγή: http://news.sky.com
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