Liverpool urged to stay clean when driving home For Christmas

Drivers across Liverpool are being urged to make responsible choices over the festive period and never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

In 2024, more than 1,600 drivers were arrested for drink and or drug driving in Liverpool – the equivalent of a driver being pulled up once every six hours.

There were also 36 road traffic collisions linked to impaired driving – 58% involved alcohol, and 42% involved drugs. The most prevalent age group for an offender was 40-49 year-olds, with men representing a significantly higher proportion of impaired drivers.

As the festive season approaches, Liverpool City Council is supporting Merseyside Police’s Operation Limit, the national policing response to the potential increase in road traffic collisions which could accompany festive celebrations. It runs from 1 December to 1 January every year. This year, the first 24 hours of Operation Limit resulted in 24 arrests for drink or drug driving.

The legal alcohol limit in England is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

How much alcohol it takes to reach this level will depend on a person’s weight, age, metabolism, the amount of food they’ve eaten and other factors.

It is an offence to drive with controlled drugs above a specified level in your blood.
Driving impaired can ruin the lives of the people involved and their loved ones.

Consequences include:

• Prison sentences
• Heavy fines
• Driving bans
• Criminal records
• Higher insurance costs
• Barriers to jobs and travel

The plea supports the Liverpool City Region Road Safety Strategy’s mission to achieve Vision Zero by 2040 – an ambitious goal to eliminate avoidable deaths and serious injuries on our roads in the next 15 years.

Cllr Dan Barrington, cabinet member for transport and connectivity, said: “Just a little amount of alcohol can amount to a massive risk on the road, and it simply isn’t worth it. One drink too many and one error on the road can shatter lives in an instant.

“This Christmas, we’re urging drivers to make responsible decisions and remain safe on the road. If you’ve been drinking or you’re under the influence of drugs, leave the car behind and find another way home.”