A CRACKDOWN on drink and drug drivers will begin today as a new road safety campaign is launched in the run up to Christmas.

Officers have vowed to stop dangerous drivers in their tracks if they have reason to believe they may have been drinking or taking drugs before they got behind the wheel.

Several checkpoints will be operating across the county with officers stopping drivers at the roadside to conduct breath and drug tests.

Anybody found to be over the limit will face the full force of the law.

Drinkers are also being urged to remember if you drink at home you could still be over the limit the next morning.

Ch Insp Sue Bushell, of the Lancashire Police TacOps team, said: “We know that the majority of drivers follow the law and that it is only a small minority who choose to drink or drug-drive.

“However to those people we say this: driving while under the influence is both selfish and utterly reckless and the legal limit is there for a reason. No matter how well you believe you can drive under the influence, you are putting yourself and others in danger of serious harm or death and it is never, ever worth it.

“We know people will want to enjoy a drink over Christmas but we want to make it clear we will be taking a zero tolerance approach to drink or drug-driving.

“Over the next month we will be out and about on the roads and will be stopping motorists at checkpoints right across the county doing alcohol and drug screening tests. We will not hesitate to prosecute anybody who is found to be over the legal limit for alcohol or drugs.

“We know this year has been difficult, to say the least, and you may want to celebrate over Christmas with a few drinks – especially when restrictions on gatherings are relaxed slightly over Christmas Day itself. But please don’t get behind the wheel under the influence and put yourself and others in danger.”

Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “Drink and drug driving will never be tolerated here in Lancashire. Those people who drink or drug drive selfishly put their safety and others at risk.

“I am totally supportive of the force’s continued efforts to ensure our roads are safer.

“Not only is it a crime, it can have devastating consequences and sadly, year on year these campaigns show how important it is to continue to help make Lancashire’s roads as safe as possible.”