Police caught over 180 motorists who were unfit to drive because of drink or drugs during a month-long crackdown.
At the start of December officers from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit (CDSOU) joined the national campaign covering the run-up to the festive, and then New Year period.
Roadside checkpoints were staged at various locations in the two force areas and any driver involved in a collision, regardless of fault was breath-tested.
This was also the first Christmas campaign since the introduction last March of Drugwipe kits, which give officers the means to test at the roadside anyone they think is under the influence of illegal drugs.
From 1st to 31st December a total of 185 drivers were arrested across County Durham and Cleveland.
Of these, 125 were arrested for drink-related offences, 46 for drugs and 14 for being unable to provide a specimen for analysis.
Chief Insp Mick Robson, head of roads policing for the CDSOU said; âThese figures demonstrate very clearly the need for us to be vigilant. It is alarming how many people still think they can get away with driving while they are unfit to do so, and are willing to gamble with their lives and the lives of others.
âThe communities of Cleveland and County Durham will be much safer as a result of the actions carried out by our officers throughout December.
âBut keeping our roads safe is what we do all year round, not just over Christmas.
âOver the next 12 months we will continue our rolling programme of casualty reduction initiatives, and there will be further campaigns targeting drink- or drug-drivers.â
