Eight drivers were arrested in Richmondshire for drink or drug driving during a month-long campaign that coincided with the World Cup.
As the campaign which saw 118 arrests across the county concludes, North Yorkshire Police said the results show how determined they are to tackle the “destructive scourge” of drink and drug driving, and added: “If you saw what we see, you’d never ever do it”.
Officers have been out around the clock, conduction roadside checks, carrying out traffic stops and targeting known offenders.
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So far, ten drivers in North Yorkshire have been convicted at court and banned from the roads for a total of 22 years.
They have been fined a total of more than £6,500. Some have received community orders.
The longest ban so far is 48 months given to a woman from West Burton and the biggest individual fine was almost £3,500.
On average, those arrested blew twice the legal drink drive limit.
The number of arrests across the county is up by 20 since last year.
Officers say the rise could be down to people going out to watch World Cup matches, the warm weather and effective enforcement tactics across North Yorkshire.
Roads Policing Inspector Dave Barf said: “The high number of arrests during our campaign shows how determined we are to take drink and drug drivers off our roads. It’s a destructive scourge that wrecks people’s lives, so I’m glad we’ve had such positive impact during our month-long campaign.
“I hope it’ll make people think twice. But unfortunately, drink and drug drivers tend only to think about themselves.
“I often wonder if they’d still do it if they saw what we saw – the absolute carnage of a crash scene; body parts on the carriageway; someone’s mum, dad or child lying rigid on a mortuary slab, and the heartbreaking reactions we see when we have to tell people a loved one has been killed.
“Despite our best efforts, it’s highly likely there will be families in North Yorkshire who will find themselves in exactly this situation before the year is out.
“You cannot believe anyone would be prepared to cause that for the sake a few extra pints or a quick high.”
Insp Barf urged anyone who has information about people drink or drug driving to report it to North Yorkshire Police on 101, adding: “It’s selfish and I don’t want me or my family to share road space with them – do you?
“We’ll do everything we can to catch them and the public can help by sharing information with us. Don’t have someone’s death on your conscience.”
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Having lost my 46 year old Dad in a horrific car crash through no fault of his own nearly 44 years ago I fully support the police. As a family we still haven’t truly got over it, it happened a week before Christmas 1974, his first grandchild was just 11 weeks old & it was our 3rd Wedding Anniversary. I can still picture the poor young policeman who had the terrible job of knocked on our door to tell us the news, he was near to tears. I would love the opportunity to hug this policeman & tell him I still think of him finding himself in that awful situation. My dad was in such a terrible state we were advised not to visit him in the morgue. I believe there should be zero tolerance as far as drink/drug driving is concerned. These thoughtless people should witness what the emergency services & families go through first hand as a result of their selfish stupid behaviour.