Merton Council and the police will be cracking down on drink and drug driving over the festive season.

As part of these combined efforts, police officers and the council’s road safety team will be patrolling Merton’s roads to educate and warn drivers about the risks of drink and drug driving. They will also be checking for drivers using mobile phones and not wearing seat belts whilst driving.

The police will be conducting breathalyser tests with commuters at Wimbledon station to check for drink and drug use. Council officers will be on hand to offer advice about the consequences of alcohol consumption and driving the day after a night of heavy drinking, as alcohol levels can still be over the limit.

For further information, visit http://www.merton.gov.uk/roadsafety

Merton Council’s cabinet member for planning and traffic management, Councillor William Brierly said: “We are working closely with the police to reduce the number of drink and drug related incidents on our roads and ensure drivers are aware of the repercussions of their actions. Irresponsible driving can not only harm the driver, but could have devastating consequences for innocent road users in the vicinity.

“As the festive season approaches, drivers are encouraged to think carefully about their actions. A split second decision can have a serious and devastating effect on the lives of many. We want to ensure that everyone travelling on Merton’s roads can do so confident in the knowledge that they are doing so safely.”