Drug driving offences overtakes drink driving numbers in North Wales

By Richard Evans

Concerns the number of drug driving offences in North Wales has now overtaken drink driving were raised at a police meeting this week.

Now North Wales Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin says a change in approach is needed to tackle the rise in driving under the influence of drugs.

The matter was discussed at this week’s North Wales Police and Crime Panel at Conwy ’s Bodlondeb HQ.

North Wales Police Sgt Liam Ho, of the newly-formed roads crime unit, revealed 204 drink drivers had been arrested in the last 12 months.

But this was compared to 272 drug drivers who were also arrested in the same period.

Sgt Ho said police had issued over two and a half thousand traffic offence reports, and that the unit’s work had resulted in 890 people being summoned to court.

Sgt Ho explained that the unit’s operations were based on the fatal five road offences of drink driving, drug driving, careless or dangerous driving, not using seat belts, and using mobile phones at the wheel.

But Cllr Nigel Williams asked what police were doing about the rise in drug driving.

“Drink driving, obviously now, it’s been deemed socially unacceptable by most,” he said.

“People don’t actually go to the pub and have a drink and drive home. The majority of people don’t.