Christmas has been and Rutland residents have welcomed in the New Year, but the local police are remaining vigilant as the drink and drugs patrols taking place throughout Christmas continue into 2024.

does not mean that our work on the Drink / Drug Drive campaign is done!

Officers are still paying extra attention to the road network to prevent and detect Traffic offences involving some of the Fatal Four:

1. Inappropriate speed

Even the difference of a few miles per hour can mean the difference between life and death. The speed limit is not a target, you should drive at a speed that suits the conditions and the type of road. For example, if it's foggy or raining, if you're driving near a school or in a town centre, then driving at the speed limit could be too fast.

Make sure that you're driving at a safe speed at all times, and never exceed the speed limit.

2. Using a mobile phone

You can get 6 penalty points and a £200 fine if you use a hand-held phone when driving - making calls, texting, reading posts, playing games, taking photos, anything.

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You'll also lose your licence if you passed your driving test in the last 2 years.

You can only use a hand-held phone if you're safely parked with the engine switched off or you need to call 999 or 112 in an emergency and it's unsafe or impractical to stop.

3. Not wearing a seatbelt

You're twice as likely to die in a crash if you don't wear a seatbelt. So...make sure you and your passengers are wearing a seatbelt or secured in a car seat.

Children should use a child car seat until they're 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first.

Children over 12 or more than 135cm tall must wear a seat belt.

4. Drink/drug driving

When you drink, it takes longer for your brain to receive messages from your eye, and processing information becomes more difficult. All of these can significantly impact your driving. Driving = NO alcohol.

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There is ZERO tolerance for Drink / Drug Driving and these can result in life threatening, changing or fatal consequences as drivers have less control and slower reactions.

If you know of anyone that continues to drive whilst under the influence, you can contact the Police or report via CrimeStoppers, preventing families and lives being torn apart.

Don't drink and drive. Image credit: Rutland Police / Crime Stoppers.

Sergeant Palmer of Rutland Police said: "Officers have made some successful stop checks on vehicles which have resulted in Drug related investigations for Concerned in the Supply of Class A drugs, Possession with intent to Supply Class A, Possession with intent to Supply Class B, traffic offences and numerous identification offences to name but a few. This is on top of Drink and Drug Driving.

"All of these have come from the Officers following the 'Copper's Instinct' and conducting thorough checks on person and vehicle. The investigations into these have so far uncovered a vast amount of drugs, cash from proceeds of criminal activity and evidence of further offending with more still to progress."

Thank you to our hard working local policing team for their work over Christmas and into the New Year.