CHESHIRE Roads Policing team and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service have launched their joint annual crackdown on drink and drug drivers.

The initiative, which coincides with the start of the World Cup, is set to run until the end of July, and throughout this period officers from the roads policing team will be specifically target drivers who they believe may be influence of drugs or alcohol.

Inspector Darren Owen, from the Cheshire Roads Policing team, said: “Driving under the influence of either alcohol or drugs is extremely dangerous. It affects your reaction time, making it harder for you to judge your speed, judge your distance between you and other vehicles and notice potential hazards. All of this means that you are more likely to be involved in a collision whilst driving under the influence of either alcohol or drugs.

Anyone caught drink or drug driving not only faces losing their licence, but could also be met with a £5,000 fine, see their car insurance costs soar and even a possible six month prison sentence.

Andy Gray, watch manager at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We regularly attend road traffic collisions to rescue people who have crashed as a result of drink or drugs. These can be harrowing incidents and can cause serious, life-changing injuries and worse.

“Our firefighters will be handing out information about the impact these incidents at our fire station open days throughout the summer.”

Anyone who suspects that somebody is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol should call Cheshire Police on 999 or 101.