The number of deaths and serious injuries linked to drink and drug driving soared last year, Sussex Police said,
The toll in 2024 exceeded the total for the two previous years combined.
the figures were published as the force begins its annual Christmas crackdown today (Monday 1 December).
Sussex Police said: “Think you won’t get caught? Think again.
“This is the message being issued as Sussex Police prepares to launch its Christmas crackdown on drink and drug drivers.”
Chief Constable Jo Shiner, who is also the roads policing lead for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said: “Every year, we see a number of innocent people killed or seriously injured on our roads by drivers who are high on drink or drugs, and it needs to stop.
“The impact on victims and their families is devastating and no one should expect to receive a knock on the door to be told they have lost their loved one in a collision due to a drink or drug driver.
“With the festive season now upon us, we will be stepping up patrols again this month – in addition to routine roads policing duties 365 days a year – to ensure we protect all road users in Sussex and bring those offenders to justice.”
Sussex Police said: “For the whole of 2024, there were 70 collisions in Sussex where someone was killed or seriously injured related to alcohol and 48 related to drugs.”
The total of 118 deaths and serious injuries last year compres with 100 in the previous two years combined.
In 2023, the number of deaths and serious injuries linked to alcohol totalled 27 while 19 were linked to drug driving.
In 2022, the figures were 46 and 8 respectively, making 54 in all.
Sussex Police said: “The total number of arrests in 2024 were 1,128 for drink driving and 1,021 for drug driving.
“This compares to 1,127 for drink driving and 1,119 for drug driving in 2023 and 1,275 for drink driving and 1,002 for drug driving in 2022.”
Chief Constable Shiner added: “We hear the same excuses every year – ‘I was only around the corner’… ‘I felt fine to drive’… ‘I didn’t think I’d get caught’… The bottom line is there is absolutely no excuse to drive under the influence of drink or drugs.
“Those who do can expect to face the full consequences, which can include being disqualified from driving, a hefty fine or even a prison sentence. But for the families of victims killed in collisions, it is a life sentence.
The consequences of killing someone with a car so minor compared to what they should be there is no real incentive for people not to drive like absolute morons whilst under the influence.
Life imprisonment for causing death by dangerous driving is very substantial, Frank.
I think we need to normalise not accepting people driving like absolute morons; rather than having a go at people who report them via dashcams or the speedwatch volunteers.
Before you accept such an assessment you need to look at the figures – how they were collected and the criteria that was used for the conclusions reached.
If collection or criteria have changed the conclusions cannot be compared.
What does the comparison of statistics mean when someone is killed and families ripped apart by some idiotic oaf too lazy or completely indifferent to others that they don’t believe the law applies to them?
Until the punishment gets in line with the crime then nothing will change, seems like punishment is regulated by prison spaces, mimimal prison time for everyone for just about any crime just to save the cost of building prisons.