#WYPTheCost - Drink/Drug Drive Campaign

The #WYPTheCost campaign aims to highlight the cost of being convicted of a drink or drug driving offence. This could be spending the new year in a prison cell, costly fines, the loss of your licence and in the worst-case scenario having to live with the knowledge that you have seriously injured or killed someone.

The campaign is being launched with a video featuring Tanya Palmer who was involved in a collision with a suspected drink driver in April 2021 when she was 22-weeks pregnant. Tanya talks about the lasting impact that the collision still has on her now 19 months on. The driver involved was convicted of failing to provide a specimen for analysis for alcohol or drugs and jailed for 12 months and banned from driving for three-and-a-half years.

Inspector Chris Robinson, of the Roads Policing Unit, said: “We talk a lot about the consequences and cost for the offender because it is their behaviour that we need to change, but Tanya’s story really brings it home the impact that drink and drug driving has on other innocent road users. 

“If you’re someone who sometimes drives while over the limit, then I would ask you to think how you would feel if you were involved in a collision with someone like Tanya.

“You might think you are fine to drive or ride your motorcycle after a few pints or taking drugs, but every day we are arresting people with exactly the same mindset. There are many reasons why we conduct breathalyser or drug tests, but it is often because of a drop in the standard of driving or riding or because a collision has occurred.

“Please plan ahead this Christmas and rather than driving or riding your motorcycle, find alternative transport. If your plans change then consider how you will get home. The small inconvenience of having to collect your vehicle the next day far outweighs being arrested and facing a conviction for a drink or drug driving offence.

“If a friend or family member is planning to drive whilst over the limit then please also remind them of the consequences and encourage them to reconsider their plans.”

West Yorkshire Police will be carrying out an increased enforcement in support of the national drink and drug drive operation co-ordinated by the National Police Chief’s Council. The operation started on Sunday, 20th November and runs through until 1st January, 2023. Th operation has been extended to include the start of the World Cup.

During last year’s campaign – which ran from 1st December, 2021, to 1st January, 2022, there were 221 arrests for drink driving, 95 arrests for drug driving and 19 arrests for failing to provide a sample.

The Roads Policing Unit will be sharing updates on Twitter throughout the campaign and giving running totals of the numbers of arrests being made.

A further video is also due to be released later in the campaign highlighting the consequences for an offender.

To find out more about the work of the Roads Policing Unit, you can follow them on Twitter here or by searching for @WYP_RPU

You can report anyone you suspect to be a drink / drug driver using this online form. (Note this form is NOT to be used if a crime is in progress).

Campaign Artwork