A TOTAL of 58 motorists were arrested for drink driving across the West Mercia Police area in the first week of the force's high profile Christmas crackdown.

Devastating

The force has stepped up its enforcement offensive against drink drivers in support of the initiative to warn of the devastating consequences of taking the wheel after drinking.

Sgt John Roberts of the force's Traffic and Operations Department said: "This demonstrates our determination to back up our drive to educate the public with positive action to save lives and cut the injury toll on our roads over the festive season.

"The fact that we have arrested eight people every day for drink drive offences during the past week shows that there is still a hard core of irresponsible people who ignore our powerful warnings. They continue to put the lives of themselves and others at risk by taking to the roads after drinking alcohol.

"Anybody who is stupid enough to indulge in this dangerous practice runs a higher risk than ever before that they will be caught."

Sgt Roberts added: "Drinking and driving is an all year round enforcement activity for us.

"We are using high profile marked and unmarked patrols across the force area throughout the Christmas and New Year period when the temptation to get behind the wheel after a drink can be greater."

No safe limit

"Our message to drivers who drink is simple: there is no safe limit, people who drink and drive are dangerous.

"It devastates lives and we are determined to stamp it out in West Mercia," he added.

This hard-hitting campaign was launched on December 10 with the help of Ed Walsh who has been in a wheelchair since he was hit by a drink driver 16 years ago.