Suspected drink-driver was doing 100mph in an Audi when he crashed into trees

ALMOST 100 people were arrested on suspicion of drink- or drug-driving in Warwickshire over the Christmas and new year period.

Warwickshire Police said its month-long Operation Limit, which started on 1st December, saw 95 arrests and 334 breath tests carried out.

Fourteen of the drivers were arrested on suspicion of drink- or drug-driving offences following a collision, including an Audi RS7 driver who lost control of his car on the M6 near junction 2 on 16th December, while travelling at more than 100mph.

The Audi left the road and crashed into trees, leaving one of the passengers with a broken rib.

Warwickshire Police said the vast majority of those arrested were men. The youngest driver arrested was 18 and the oldest was 80.

One driver provided a roadside breath test reading of 141 - four times the legal limit of 35 micrograms per 100ml of breath.

Six drivers were also found to be driving with no licence or no insurance and had their vehicles seized.

Sgt Simon Dalby said: “Those arrested will now have the opportunity to consider the consequences if found guilty in court. Those convicted will have a criminal record that could affect their job prospects and ability to travel to certain countries.

“Sentences can include fines and driving bans.”

He added: “We would also like to reassure the public that this operation isn’t a one off. We target suspected drink- and drug-drivers every day of the year because we know the biggest deterrent to drink and drug driving is being caught and punished.”

Police and Crime Commissioner and Chair of Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership Philip Seccombe said: “For our roads to be safer we need to continue to push behaviour change messages so that drink- and drug-driving is regarded by everyone as completely unacceptable. It’s therefore very encouraging to see so many of the public getting involved and reporting people they suspect of driving under the influence so that police can take the necessary enforcement action on our roads.”

Recent arrests included a 20-year-old provisional licence holder from Stratford who was arrested at 2am on 30th December on Evesham Road after his vehicle was stopped due to his manner of driving. He was later charged with driving while unfit through drink or drugs, driving without a licence and without insurance.

He will appear at Warwickshire Magistrates Court on 23rd February.