POLICE are targeting drivers who are still over the limit the morning after a night out.
Officers will be carrying out early-morning checks across Hull during their annual Christmas drink-driving campaign.
PC Keith Ward, casualty reduction officer for the city, said: "We have been doing some checks during November, but we are stepping it up in December.
"There will be a lot of activity, including several officers going out early in the morning to check people who have been out the night before.
"If people plan on driving, the only safe limit is zero. It is not worth the risk."
Officers have recently been carrying out checks on drivers coming off the ferries arriving at King George Dock, with more planned for next month.
"We did some random stop checks of people coming off a full ferry that had hosted a northern soul night the night before," said PC Ward.
"We found nine drivers still had alcohol in the system. Although none of them were over the limit, some of them were very close to it but they had no idea.
"It made them very nervous to be breathalysed and it was definitely an eye-opener for them.
"It takes an hour for just one unit of alcohol to leave your system, so the only way to sober up is time."
During last year's campaign in Hull, 1,520 drivers were breathalysed in November and December, with 55 – 3.6 per cent – found to be over the limit.
In the East Riding, 56 (5.3 per cent) of 1,054 drivers stopped also failed a breath test.
Last year, two people were killed and five seriously injured after crashes involving drink-drivers across Humberside.
During December, police will also be breathalysing drivers who are seen committing offences including speeding and not wearing a seatbelt.
"We will be highly visible and showing drivers in Hull that they could be stopped and will have to face the consequences if they have been drinking," said PC Ward.
Anyone caught drink-driving will face a driving ban and possible prison sentence.
PC Ward said: "We see people from all walks of life, including people who have really high-flying jobs, who still fall foul, particularly the morning after."
Mick Harris, partnership manager for Safer Roads Humber which is funding the campaign, said: "Drink-driving is completely unacceptable and often drivers are caught out by not thinking through their plans fully.
"If caught drink-driving after a quick drink with friends or the morning after a night out, it's not just your licence that you risk – it could be your whole future."
Anyone with information about drink-drivers can call Humberside Police on 101.
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