More than 1,800 arrests for drink-driving made in Cambridgeshire in last three years

Cambridgeshire Police have made more than 1,800 drink-driving arrests in the last three years, with 612 logged in the last year alone, a new investigation has revealed.

Fresh data obtained by Legal Expert has found that between December 2021 and November 2024, the force made 1,881 drink-driving arrests. Of those, just 64% resulted in a charge or summons.

Legal Expert road traffic accident specialist, Tracy Chick said: “Drink-driving is such an avoidable offence and there is no excuse for drinking and getting behind the wheel.”

Cambridgeshire Police revealed that the most common age group for those arrested for drink-driving in the last three years was between 31-40, accounting for 32% of the figures, closely followed by 18-30 year olds which made up 31%.

What’s more, a staggering 84% of drink-drivers arrested by Cambridgeshire Police in the last three years were male.

The findings follow the latest data released by the Department for Transport in 2024 revealing that UK drink-driving deaths have hit a 13-year-high.

There were an estimated 300 deaths where at least one driver was over the legal blood-alcohol limit in 2022, the latest year for which official figures are available. This is the highest annual figure since 2009.

The number is 16% higher than in 2021 and means drink-drive fatalities accounted for about 18% of all deaths, bucking the general long-term trend for safer roads and more responsible driving.

Ms Chick said: “It is deeply concerning that drink-drive-related deaths have reached their highest level since 2009. Anyone who drinks and drives is putting the lives of all road users at risk.

"The impact of drink-driving can be devastating not only for victims who have been killed or suffered life-changing injuries but also for the drivers facing serious legal consequences - it is such an avoidable offence and there is no excuse for drinking and getting behind the wheel.

“Throughout my legal career, I have worked with victims and families of drink-driving collisions and the impact is immense. Thankfully, I’ve been able to bring even a small comfort by securing them the compensation they deserve to help to start to rebuild their lives.”

Legal Expert offers specialist advice and support to anyone involved in a drink-driving incident.

They operate a 24-hour helpline and live chat service which you can access on their website.