POLICE have mounted a month-long crackdown on drink and drug-driving.

The campaign will see increased resources deployed on the roads across all four Welsh police force areas.

In the last 50 years, road casualties caused by drink-driving have fallen dramatically.

Police says this is due to change in attitude regarding drink-driving and also the improvements in technology and processes by the forces.

According to the Department for Transport, however, there has been a six-fold increase in the number of people caught drug-driving across the UK.

March 2015 saw changes to the law around drug-driving, bringing it in line with drink-driving, and since that change, the number of drivers caught within Wales driving under the influence of drugs has increased by 65 per cent.

Supt Jane Banham of the North Wales force's roads policing unit said: “Driving under the influence is a crime with the potential of causing serious injury or death.

“As part of the campaign, officers will be stepping up their patrols, using a range of tactics and intelligence to take action against anyone who breaks the law.

"Using the latest technology, police forces are better equipped than ever before to detect someone they expect of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”

Economy and Transport Secretary Ken Skates said: “It is hugely disappointing that campaigns such this are still needed.

"However, as there are still far too many lives shattered by substance and alcohol impaired driving every year in Wales, it’s clear they still are.

“The dangers drivers face, and pose to others, increase tremendously if they get behind the wheel of a car when under the influence of drink or drugs.

"The annual 'All Wales Summer Drink Drug Drive Campaign' is invaluable in continuing to educate all motorists on the very real risks they run if they make that decision.

“I would like to thank our police, fire and rescue and ambulance services, who so often have to deal first-hand with the preventable consequences of drink and drug-driving and would again urge road users across Wales to plan their journeys ahead and act responsibly to ensure that everyone who shares our roads can do so safely.”

So far this year (January 1 to May 31) North Wales Police have made 352 drink drive and 304 drug drive arrests.

Supt Banham added: “The sole reason we carry out these campaigns is to help keep people safe on the roads, and I would like to encourage anybody who may have concerns about those driving under the influence to contact us – they could possibly save a life.

“Driving whilst under the influence has significant impact on people; the devastation caused to families following a fatal collision can be immeasurable.

“Although this is a seasonal campaign our work to tackle drink and drug drivers happens 365 days a year – during 2017 North Wales Police made 882 drink drive arrests and 600 drug drive arrests. Please heed the warning.”

If you have information relating to someone you think is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.