A lorry driver has been charged with drink-driving after he reportedly fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into the central reservation of the A1(M) near Harrogate.
The Scania heavy goods vehicle was heading south on the road when the incident happened at 10.25pm on Friday.
It crashed into the barrier about half-a-mile before junction 46 near Wetherby Services.
The lorry blocked the middle and outer lanes until it was recovered at 1am on Saturday.
North Yorkshire Police and National Highways managed traffic past the scene during the recovery operation and collision investigation.
The 25-year-old driver, from Cahersiveen, Ireland, was arrested and later charged with driving whilst unfit through drink — according to police, a road-side test found him to be more than double the legal limit for alcohol.
He was also charged with driving without due care and attention and will appear before Harrogate Magistrates’ Court on 17 February 2022, 10am, court room 1.
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North Yorkshire Police launches Christmas drink and drug drive campaign
North Yorkshire Police has launched its Christmas campaign to tackle drink and drug driving.
The campaign, which runs until January 1, will see traffic officers conduct around the clock patrols and breath testing.
Every year, about 1,400 people are arrested across the county for drink and drug driving. The number increases during the festive period.
Sergeant Andy Morton said:
“A lot of people think police are just interested in catching and arresting as many people as possible for drink or drug driving over the festive period. And whilst this is true to an extent, the main priority for us is to keep people alive.
“We want to catch people who take serious risks by breaking the law in this way. Drink and drug driving kills. It’s that simple. We want you to live and be at home with your loved ones this Christmas.”
According to a police press release, there are often misconceptions about how much you can legally drink and drive. The legal limit is different for everyone, depending on factors such as age, size and the type and amount of alcohol being consumed.
In England, the blood limit is 80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. But police advise people not to drink and drive at all.
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York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership is working with the police, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and other partner agencies to warn motorists of the dangers of driving whilst under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
North Yorkshire County Councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, said:
“It’s very easy to misjudge if it’s safe to get in the car and drive after doing so. Just one large glass of wine or a pint of beer can take at least two hours to leave your body before it’s safe to drive again. Please don’t put yourself or your loved ones at risk.
“We encourage people to stay safe by leaving the car at home and arranging alternative means of transport or designating an alcohol-free driver for the evening.”
A man driving a works van in Harrogate was almost four times the drink-driving limit when he was stopped by police during the afternoon.
North Yorkshire Police said in a statement it received a tip-off shortly after 1.30pm yesterday about a man driving a van with a works logo on it who was potentially under the influence of alcohol.
The 60-year-old man was pulled over on Skipton Road and asked to provide a roadside breath test. The statement added:
“He initially refused, so was arrested on suspicion of failing to provide. On returning to the station, the man blew 135 – the legal limit is 35. He was charged with drink driving.”
Sergeant Paul Cording, from North Yorkshire Police roads policing group, said:
“The fact that this man had been driving as part of his job yesterday and provided such a high reading is astonishing. The actions from the member of the public who called us with this information yesterday has probably saved a life.”
“I would encourage anyone who suspects a person to have drink or drugs in their system and is driving or about to drive to call us immediately on 999.”
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Drink-drive arrests up 75% since beer gardens reopened
Thirty-five suspected drink drivers have been arrested by North Yorkshire Police within a fortnight of beer gardens reopening.
The number represents a 75% increase compared to this time last year.
Those arrested include eight people in the Harrogate district. The only district with more arrests was York, with 11.
North Yorkshire Police launched a “Be a hero, Stay at zero” drink-drive campaign to coincide with pubs reopening on April 12.
It urged people thinking of going for a drink to use public transport or select a designated driver.
Roads policing sergeant, Andrew Morton, said:
“We’ve already encountered too many people who have ignored our warnings. Our message is simple – if you drink or drug drive, we will catch you.
“We have only just been allowed to start going to beer gardens again – don’t ruin this for yourself by losing your licence, getting a criminal record and driving ban, paying a heavy fine or going to prison.”
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Police launch drink-drive campaign as pubs reopen
North Yorkshire Police has launched a drink-drive campaign today to coincide with pubs reopening.
The force is anticipating a surge in drink-driving now pubs are able to serve outdoors and is urging people thinking of going for a drink to use public transport or select a designated driver.
It is also encouraging people to report suspected drunk drivers.
In 2020, officers arrested 871 people for drink driving – an average of more than two a day.
There were 136 arrests in the first three months of this year, despite pubs being closed.
Police hope today’s new ‘be a hero, stay at zero’ campaign will encourage anyone driving to pubs to stick to soft drinks.
Roads policing sergeant Andrew Morton said:
“After months of being stuck at home, it is only natural that people will want to go out and celebrate the latest step in the roadmap to ease coronavirus restrictions.
“We’ll be out around the clock on the lookout for drink-driving so we urge people to enjoy their time in beer gardens safely. No drink is worth a fine, a ban, yours or even someone else’s life.”
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Anyone with information about drink or drug driving is asked by the police to call 101 or, if it’s happening now, call 999.
Over 20 arrests made on district roads last weekendThe police made 20 arrests over a single weekend on roads around Harrogate, Knaresborough and Skipton as part of a campaign to tackle drink driving.
The highest reading of the weekend was 144ug/100ml – over four times the legal limit – by a women from the Knaresborough area driving in York.
Operation Attention follows a summertime peak in drink driving. The efforts by the police are to put on a “show of force” to deter drink or drug drivers and catch offenders.
A total of 23 arrests were made between August 14 to 17. Out of those arrests, 10 were found to be over the legal alcohol limit – 35ug per 100ml of breath.
Other offences included speeding, with one driver caught driving at 80mph within a 30mph zone.
Traffic Sergeant Andy Morton from the Road Policing Group said:
“The results send a clear message that if people choose to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs and break the law, there are consequences to your actions and officers will catch you. We are here to protect the public’s safety on the roads of North Yorkshire and by catching these people. The local community can be confident that these drivers will pay the price by being given lengthy bans, significant fines and even prison sentences.”
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Last weekend’s operation involved specialist road policing officers, special constables and local policing teams and more than 50 drivers were stopped.
The operation has ran from July 13 to August 16, a total of 171 people have been arrested for drink and drug drive offences across North Yorkshire.