A teenage driver has been arrested and charged after a car crashed into a telegraph pole. The 17-year-old boy is due to appear in court later month on charges of driving while over the alcohol limit, driving without a licence and third party insurance following the collision in Pucklechurch on December 14.
Avon and Somerset Police said the car contained five people when it collided with the pole but, luckily, no one suffered significant injuries. The crash and arrest is just one of more than 200 arrests for drunk/drug driving made by the force during December 2024.
Officers made 241 arrests for driving under the influence of drink and/or drugs as part of the National Operation Limit, aimed at reducing fatal and serious crashes and protecting road users in December. During the month, stop checks, proactive patrols, public reports and intelligence-led stops were used to target offending drivers.
Drink driving arrests accounted for 62 percent of the operation, with 38 percent arrested for drug driving. More than 88 percent of those arrested were male, while 32 percent were aged between 25-34, Avon and Somerset Police said. The highest number of arrests were made in Somerset, where 80 people were found to be over the limit. The numbers were 66 in Bristol and 46 in South Gloucestershire.
Police say drink driving is one of the leading causes of road deaths, accounting for around 17 percent of fatalities and drug driving poses an equally serious risk to road users. Dangers include impaired reaction times, coordination and judgement, which seriously increases the risk of a collision.
Samantha Davies, mother of Daniel Davies, shared the impact of losing her 16-year-old son in a crash caused by a drug driver. Part of a campaign for Avon and Somerset Police, she urged people to consider their actions.
She said: “Dan had his whole life ahead of him… I will never know whether he went on to be the person I imagined he probably would. It’s a sadness, sadder than any sad you’ll ever, ever feel.”
In the Avon and Somerset Policing area, 55 fatal and serious injury collisions since the beginning of last year are known to be linked to drink- and/or drug-driving.
Chief Inspector Robert Cheeseman, Head of Roads Policing and Road Safety for Avon and Somerset Police, said: “Throughout the festive period, 241 individuals made the reckless decision to drive under the influence of drink or drugs. Thanks to proactive policing and public support, we’ve ensured they are no longer a threat to others on the road.
“Choosing to drive while impaired is not just illegal—it’s a deeply irresponsible act that can shatter lives in an instant. Every collision caused by drink or drug driving leaves behind a ripple effect of pain and heartbreak for families and communities.
“We’re grateful to everyone who shared information with us during this campaign. Every report helps us take decisive action and sends a strong message: drink and drug driving will not be tolerated on our roads.”