25 Lives at Risk in One Day – Don’t Let Yours Be Next

On Saturday 6 December, as the festive season began, roads policing officers began in earnest their annual Christmas anti-drink and drug driving campaign with a day of action in Southend, targeting dangerous driving behaviour that puts lives at risk.

In just one day, the team arrested 31 people – 25 for drink or drug driving.

That’s 25 drivers who chose to gamble with lives – theirs, their passengers’, and yours.

Several others were arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs with intent to supply.

Over the course of the day, the Roads Policing Unit officers whose role is to ensure safety on our roads, keep traffic moving and uphold the law, realized:

• 31 arrests – 25 drink or drug related
• 89 Traffic Offence Reports
• 18 vehicle seizures
• 109 speeding drivers caught on camera exceeding 30mph speed limits

Of those figures, the team held a static site at London Road, A13, Chalkwell Park, achieving 41 Traffic Offence Reports, 3 vehicle seizures and 8 arrests.

Head of Essex Police’s Roads Policing Unit, Mr Adam Pipe, said:

What my officers found, should shock us all.
Every time someone drives under the influence, they turn a car into a weapon.
Drugs stay in your system longer than you think. They cloud your judgement, slow your reactions, and make you a danger to everyone on the road. Alcohol does the same.
Behind every statistic is a family that could have been shattered, a life that could have been lost.

In addition, the team also conducted mobile patrols across the district, resulting in a significant number of enforcement actions:

• 23 Arrests – 21 for drink or drug driving
• 48 Traffic Offence Reports
• 15 vehicle seizures

The force’s road safety lead added:

Police patrols are vital for keeping our roads safe. A visible presence deters dangerous behaviour like speeding, drink and drug driving, and mobile phone use before it happens.
Every patrol is a safeguard - protecting lives, reassuring communities, and reminding drivers that the law is there to keep everyone safe and making sure every journey ends safely.
I’d urge every driver to stop before they get behind the wheel for every journey, and think - are they safe to drive?
Please, don’t put drugs in the driving seat.

What You Can Do
• Plan Ahead: If you’re drinking, sort a lift, book a taxi, or use public transport.
• Don’t Guess: If you’ve taken drugs, you’re not safe to drive – even hours later.
• Speak Up: Stop a friend from driving impaired. It could save their life.
• Report It: If you see someone risking lives, call the police.

This campaign isn’t about numbers – it’s about people. About making sure everyone gets home safe this Christmas. One selfish decision can destroy everything. Don’t be that driver.

We're offering more ways for our communities to stay up to date with our work across Essex.

Our e-newsletter, Dispatch, delivers news, information, and advice from Essex Police.

Dispatch is a ‘one stop shop’ for local police news – direct from the source. 

Sign up is completely free and you can unsubscribe at any time.