A MAN caught driving on the M25 with a front tyre missing, a teenager who had only passed her test three weeks before and a drug user found driving with no insurance or MOT in Farnham were among those caught during Surrey Police’s festive drink and drug driving crackdown.

Surrey Police’s 2016 campaign used the simple message ‘Go cold turkey’ and have none at all, and saw officers carry out dedicated 24/7 patrols from December 1, 2016 through to January 1, 2017.

It led to the arrests of 100 drivers, half of which have already been charged with drink-related offences and are due at, or have already been to court, including:

• Benjamin Taylor, 34, of Fairview Road, Ash, was pulled over in his Ford Ka in Waggon Yard car park, Farnham in the early hours of Wednesday, December 21, and failed a roadside breath test.

Taylor was also charged with the possession of 20 grams of cannabis, as well as having no MOT and insurance.

He appeared at Guildford Magistrates’ Court on January 5, and was handed a total fine of £600 as well as a £30 victim surcharge, £85 in costs and disqualified from driving for 18 months.

• A teenage girl who had only passed her driving test three weeks earlier was involved in a single vehicle collision in New Haw in the early hours of Saturday, December 17. A roadside breath test was taken and she was nearly three times over the prescribed limit.

As a result, the 17 year old was charged with drink driving and was banned from driving for two years after admitting the offence when she appeared at Guildford Youth Court on January 4. She was also given a four-month youth supervision order.

• A 37-year-old man from Haslemere was charged with drink driving after he was stopped when he was seen driving with a front tyre missing on the M25 at Egham on December 28 at around 4pm. A roadside breath test proved positive and the driver appeared at Staines Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, January 11.

John Woolford of Meadowlands Drive, Haslemere, was disqualified from driving for 30 months, given a nine months community order and ordered to pay £85 fund charge and £85 costs.

Of the remaining drivers arrested, 42 remain on bail pending further enquiries, six face no further action and two will be summonsed to court.

Inspector Alan Nicholls of Surrey Police RPU said: “It is astounding that some people still choose to blatantly disregard their own and other road users’ safety by ignoring the warnings and driving while under the influence of intoxicating substances.

“Throughout the year we carry out enforcement activities but decided to use the simple message ‘Go cold turkey’ and advise motorists not to drink or take drugs if driving in a bid to target would-be Christmas offenders.

“The guidance was aimed at preventing deaths and serious injury on the road network over the festive period but clearly it fell on some deaf ears.

“There were some alarming incidents reported which demonstrate why we work with our partners throughout the year to tackle such dangerous behaviours.”

The public played its part in supporting the campaign with everyone encouraged to report drivers if they were seen to be drink or drug driving.

Insp Nicholls added: “Although the campaign has now drawn to a close, we remain as ever, 100 per cent dedicated to identifying those drivers who are drinking and drug driving and taking them off the roads.

“I would like to specifically thank members of the public who picked up the phone and reported drink and drug drivers to us. Your actions led to arrests being made and ultimately lives saved.”