Drink/drug driving
Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FOI/24/007419/T
Version Date: 02/01/2025
The Alliance Road Policing Department and Performance & Analysis Department have provided the following information.
Current and future strategic or operational implementations to prevent drink/drug driving.
- The Force continues to support the NPCC Op Limit impairment campaigns which run in the summer and December each year, although impairment is a year round area of focus.
- We are trialling Acusensus AI cameras to identify potential impaired drivers. This will be subject to post implementation evaluation in due course, but we are keen to embrace new technology where we think it will reduce road deaths.
- We are looking into the replacement of the aging Lion Intoxilyser evidential breath test devices in our Custody units, we have six in Force currently and are nearing end of life – although they remain fit for purpose we envisage replacing in 2025/26.
- The continue to run Lift Legend, an engagement campaign where work with pubs and brewery’s to offer free soft drinks to designated drivers to avoid the temptation to drink and drive.
- Impairment remains one of the Fatal 4, something we fully support year round.
- We are also trialling an interactive breathalyser to help tackle attitudes towards drink driving. This is not an evidential screening device, merely a device members of public can use to raise awareness of the impact of alcohol and driving.
Drink/drug driving statistics for past 10 calendar years (arrests, charges).
Time Frame for data:
01/01/2015 - 05/12/2024
Data Source:
Force Crime Recording Systems Niche and UNIFI
Data Processing:
QlikView Custody Report filtered on
Arrest Date: 01/01/2015 - 14/11/2022
Data extracted to excel
QlikView Custody Report filtered on
Outcome Date: 01/01/2015 - 14/11/2022
Outcome: Charge and Postal Charge
Data extracted to excel
Both data sets filtered in excel for offences:
Attempt To Drive Motor Vehicle - Alcohol Level Above Limit
Attempt To Drive Vehicle Whilst Unfit Through Drink
Cause Death By Driving Without Due Care / Consideration While Unfit Through Drugs
Cause Death By Driving Without Due Care And Attention / Reasonable Consideration While Unfit Through Drink
Drive / Attempt To Drive Vehicle And Fail To Allow Blood Specimen Taken While Incapable Of Giving Consent To Be Analysed
Drive A Vehicle Whilst Unfit Through Drugs
Drive Motor Vehicle When Alcohol Level Above Limit
Drive Motor Vehicle With A Proportion Of A Specified Controlled Drug Above The Specified Limit
Drive Whilst Unfit Through Drink
Fail To Co-Operate With A Preliminary Test - Motor Vehicle Offence
Fail To Provide Specimen - Person In Charge Of Vehicle
Fail To Provide Specimen For Analysis - Vehicle Driver
In Charge Of A Motor Vehicle With Proportion Of Specified Controlled Drug Above Specified Limit
In Charge Of Motor Vehicle - Alcohol Level Above Limit
In Charge Of Vehicle Whilst Unfit Through Drink
In Charge Of Vehicle Whilst Unfit Through Drugs
QlikView report Detainee Management filtered on
Arrest Date: 15/11/2022 - 05/12/2024
Data extracted from Arrest Data sheet to excel
QlikView report Offence Management filtered on
Disposal: Charge and Bail, Charge and Remand, Postal Charge
Disposal Date Time: 14/11/2022 - 05/12/2024
Niche data sets filtered in excel for offences:
Attempt to drive a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit (recordable)
Attempt to drive motor vehicle - alcohol level above limit (recordable)
Attempt to drive vehicle whilst unfit through drink (recordable)
Attempt to drive vehicle whilst unfit through drugs (recordable)
Cause death by driving without due care / consideration while unfit through drugs
Cause death by driving without due care / consideration while unfit through drugs (recordable)
Cause death by driving without due care and attention / reasonable consideration while unfit through drink
Drive / attempt to drive and fail to allow specimen of blood taken while incapable of giving consent to be analysed (recordable)
Drive a vehicle whilst drunk / under the influence of drink / drugs / other intoxicating substances at Bristol Airport
Drive a vehicle whilst unfit through drugs (recordable)
Drive motor vehicle when alcohol level above limit (recordable)
Drive motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit (recordable)
Drive whilst unfit through drink (recordable)
Fail to provide specimen - person in charge of vehicle (recordable)
Fail to provide specimen for analysis - vehicle driver (recordable)
In charge of motor vehicle - alcohol level above limit (recordable)
In charge of vehicle whilst unfit through drink (recordable)
In charge of vehicle whilst unfit through drugs (recordable)
Data Limitations
These offences are non-notifiable and so are not recorded to any great extent on our crime systems.
A positive test result or a failure to provide a test will result in an arrest and charge. So arrest data is the best source for this information.
A person can be arrested for multiple drink/drug driving offences at the same time.
|
Number of arrests made by Devon and Cornwall Police for Drink/Drug driving offences, between 01/01/2015 - 14/11/2022 |
|||||||||
|
Offence |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
Total |
|
ATTEMPT TO DRIVE MOTOR VEHICLE - ALCOHOL LEVEL ABOVE LIMIT |
3 |
4 |
7 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
32 |
35 |
91 |
|
ATTEMPT TO DRIVE VEHICLE WHILST UNFIT THROUGH DRINK |
2 |
4 |
9 |
6 |
11 |
8 |
8 |
6 |
54 |
|
CAUSE DEATH BY DRIVING WITHOUT DUE CARE / CONSIDERATION WHILE UNFIT THROUGH DRUGS |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
|
CAUSE DEATH BY DRIVING WITHOUT DUE CARE AND ATTENTION / REASONABLE CONSIDERATION WHILE UNFIT THROUGH DRINK |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
DRIVE / ATTEMPT TO DRIVE VEHICLE AND FAIL TO ALLOW BLOOD SPECIMEN TAKEN WHILE INCAPABLE OF GIVING CONSENT TO BE ANALYSED |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
DRIVE A VEHICLE WHILST UNFIT THROUGH DRUGS |
63 |
109 |
92 |
188 |
273 |
375 |
313 |
272 |
1685 |
|
DRIVE MOTOR VEHICLE WHEN ALCOHOL LEVEL ABOVE LIMIT |
965 |
1082 |
1398 |
1442 |
1607 |
1355 |
1359 |
1274 |
10482 |
|
DRIVE MOTOR VEHICLE WITH A PROPORTION OF A SPECIFIED CONTROLLED DRUG ABOVE THE SPECIFIED LIMIT |
3 |
59 |
56 |
139 |
384 |
530 |
520 |
698 |
2389 |
|
DRIVE WHILST UNFIT THROUGH DRINK |
31 |
59 |
80 |
179 |
238 |
275 |
228 |
308 |
1398 |
|
FAIL TO CO-OPERATE WITH A PRELIMINARY TEST - MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENCE |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
14 |
26 |
52 |
|
FAIL TO PROVIDE SPECIMEN - PERSON IN CHARGE OF VEHICLE |
9 |
7 |
10 |
13 |
19 |
19 |
25 |
13 |
115 |
|
FAIL TO PROVIDE SPECIMEN FOR ANALYSIS - VEHICLE DRIVER |
119 |
160 |
185 |
190 |
239 |
246 |
210 |
233 |
1582 |
|
IN CHARGE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE WITH PROPORTION OF SPECIFIED CONTROLLED DRUG ABOVE SPECIFIED LIMIT |
0 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
7 |
5 |
8 |
8 |
40 |
|
IN CHARGE OF MOTOR VEHICLE - ALCOHOL LEVEL ABOVE LIMIT |
51 |
89 |
129 |
124 |
134 |
105 |
117 |
107 |
856 |
|
IN CHARGE OF VEHICLE WHILST UNFIT THROUGH DRINK |
7 |
1 |
6 |
9 |
9 |
5 |
11 |
9 |
57 |
|
IN CHARGE OF VEHICLE WHILST UNFIT THROUGH DRUGS |
6 |
2 |
5 |
10 |
11 |
10 |
4 |
2 |
50 |
|
Total |
1259 |
1577 |
1982 |
2316 |
2940 |
2941 |
2849 |
2995 |
18859 |
|
Number of arrests made by Devon and Cornwall Police for Drink/Drug driving offences, between 15/11/2022 - 05/12/2024 |
||||
|
Offence |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
Total |
|
Attempt to drive a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit (recordable) |
1 |
9 |
3 |
13 |
|
Attempt to drive motor vehicle - alcohol level above limit (recordable) |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Attempt to drive vehicle whilst unfit through drink (recordable) |
1 |
4 |
2 |
7 |
|
Attempt to drive vehicle whilst unfit through drugs (recordable) |
1 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
|
Cause death by driving without due care and attention / reasonable consideration while unfit through drink |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Drive a vehicle whilst unfit through drugs (recordable) |
36 |
338 |
257 |
631 |
|
Drive motor vehicle when alcohol level above limit (recordable) |
147 |
1253 |
960 |
2360 |
|
Drive motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit (recordable) |
83 |
898 |
909 |
1890 |
|
Drive whilst unfit through drink (recordable) |
86 |
635 |
617 |
1338 |
|
Fail to provide specimen - person in charge of vehicle (recordable) |
1 |
27 |
25 |
53 |
|
Fail to provide specimen for analysis - vehicle driver (recordable) |
6 |
116 |
131 |
253 |
|
In charge of motor vehicle - alcohol level above limit (recordable) |
7 |
81 |
74 |
162 |
|
In charge of vehicle whilst unfit through drink (recordable) |
2 |
33 |
27 |
62 |
|
In charge of vehicle whilst unfit through drugs (recordable) |
2 |
21 |
16 |
39 |
|
Total |
373 |
3421 |
3023 |
6817 |
|
Number of charges issued by Devon and Cornwall Police for Drink/Drug driving offences, between 01/01/2015 - 14/11/2022 |
|||||||||
|
Offence |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
Total |
|
ATTEMPT TO DRIVE MOTOR VEHICLE - ALCOHOL LEVEL ABOVE LIMIT |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
12 |
6 |
24 |
|
ATTEMPT TO DRIVE VEHICLE WHILST UNFIT THROUGH DRINK |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
CAUSE DEATH BY DRIVING WITHOUT DUE CARE / CONSIDERATION WHILE UNFIT THROUGH DRUGS |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
CAUSE DEATH BY DRIVING WITHOUT DUE CARE AND ATTENTION / REASONABLE CONSIDERATION WHILE UNFIT THROUGH DRINK |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
DRIVE / ATTEMPT TO DRIVE VEHICLE AND FAIL TO ALLOW BLOOD SPECIMEN TAKEN WHILE INCAPABLE OF GIVING CONSENT TO BE ANALYSED |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
DRIVE A VEHICLE WHILST UNFIT THROUGH DRUGS |
34 |
44 |
38 |
54 |
82 |
87 |
69 |
52 |
460 |
|
DRIVE MOTOR VEHICLE WHEN ALCOHOL LEVEL ABOVE LIMIT |
781 |
836 |
1079 |
1105 |
1228 |
1039 |
1029 |
948 |
8045 |
|
DRIVE MOTOR VEHICLE WITH A PROPORTION OF A SPECIFIED CONTROLLED DRUG ABOVE THE SPECIFIED LIMIT |
1 |
35 |
21 |
57 |
217 |
327 |
408 |
439 |
1505 |
|
DRIVE WHILST UNFIT THROUGH DRINK |
13 |
20 |
23 |
52 |
66 |
52 |
73 |
96 |
395 |
|
FAIL TO CO-OPERATE WITH A PRELIMINARY TEST - MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENCE |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
13 |
|
FAIL TO PROVIDE SPECIMEN - PERSON IN CHARGE OF VEHICLE |
8 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
12 |
17 |
20 |
12 |
93 |
|
FAIL TO PROVIDE SPECIMEN FOR ANALYSIS - VEHICLE DRIVER |
111 |
132 |
170 |
170 |
212 |
213 |
190 |
210 |
1408 |
|
IN CHARGE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE WITH PROPORTION OF SPECIFIED CONTROLLED DRUG ABOVE SPECIFIED LIMIT |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
19 |
|
IN CHARGE OF MOTOR VEHICLE - ALCOHOL LEVEL ABOVE LIMIT |
24 |
49 |
79 |
73 |
82 |
53 |
67 |
57 |
484 |
|
IN CHARGE OF VEHICLE WHILST UNFIT THROUGH DRINK |
1 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
7 |
5 |
25 |
|
IN CHARGE OF VEHICLE WHILST UNFIT THROUGH DRUGS |
1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
14 |
|
Total |
975 |
1126 |
1427 |
1528 |
1914 |
1799 |
1887 |
1838* |
12494 |
For the period 15/11/2022 - 05/12/2024, 1 offence of "Cause death by driving without due care / consideration while unfit through drugs" was found which had a recorded charge outcome. Please refer to the Data Limitations for why no other offences were found during this time frame.