CHRISTMAS comes but once a year – and with it the annual warning from police about the life-changing risks of drinking and driving over the festive period.

Throughout December officers will be making sure that roads across Teignbridge and the rest of the county are ‘a safe place for everyone.’

They are pledging rigorous enforcement of the law to catch those who think it’s okay to drive under the influence of drugs or booze.

And they want to remind drivers that, even if they think they may be under the limit, their judgement could still be impaired.

Roads Policing Inspector Richard McLellan warned: ‘If we have observed someone driving in a careless or dangerous fashion – whether they’ve had a collision or not – they could still be arrested, charged and prosecuted for a Section 4 offence of driving a mechanically propelled vehicle whilst unfit through drink or drugs – even if a breath test indicates a level below 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.’

He added: ‘Drivers also need to stop assuming that they can sleep it off. From a sample of 98 people that had a positive, failed or refused breath test in June 2017, seven were found to be significantly over the limit the morning after.

‘One 38-year-old man blew 147 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath at 9.24 on a Wednesday morning. Sleep has nothing to do with reducing the alcohol level in your blood, only time.’

He stressed: ‘Our message is clear and simple – don’t drink or take drugs and drive – and give due consideration to the morning after. It is simply not worth it.’

Police are also emphasising that the effects of a collision caused by driving with impaired judgement due to alcohol or drugs extend much further than initial damage, injury or fatalities.

Insp McLellan said: ‘If you drive while impaired you not only increase your chance of causing serious injury or a death through a collision, but also risk consequences in trying to carry on with a normal life.

‘The penalties when caught have far-reaching implications on any drink driver’s life financially, emotionally, psychologically and on their family and friends.

‘The punishments for drink driving are rightly severe because there is no excuse for doing it. If convicted of drink-driving you will have a criminal record, lose your licence and potentially your livelihood and you could spend time in prison and receive a large fine.