POLICE have thanked members of the public after they helped officers intercept a suspected drink-driver who had cans of lager and his child in the vehicle on the M1.
On Thursday night, with support from the public, roads policing officers descended on the motorway and intercepted a driver.
A police spokesperson said: “At 9.12pm on May 29, we received a call to report a driver’s poor manner of driving on the M1 southbound, near to Barnsley. The caller stated that the vehicle was swerving across the lanes and posed a risk to themselves and others.
“With the caller continuing to provide information of the vehicle’s whereabouts to our control room, roads policing officers swept into the area to locate the vehicle.
“Sighting the vehicle, officers requested the driver to stop. Upon searching the vehicle, officers found cans of what they believed to be lager and asked the driver to provide a sample of breath at the roadside.”
The driver blew 68 with the legal limit being 35. He was arrested on suspicion of driving while over the prescribed limit of alcohol and taken to custody.
His passenger, a child, was taken home and to safety by officers. The man failed to provide a sample of blood in police custody.
Roads Policing Inspector Kieran Frain said: “One in five fatal collisions involves a drink-driver. If you make the decision to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol, we endeavour to put you before a court and face the consequences of risking innocent people’s lives.
“We have a limited number of resources and officers and can’t be everywhere, which is why public support is invaluable and I thank those who called to report this driver.
“You can’t be responsible for other people’s actions, but you can your own. Drink and drug driving is reckless. You not only risk your own life but that of other people’s, innocent road users. Don’t take the risk.”
The man arrested has since been charged with failing to provide a specimen and will appear before Barnsley Magistrates’ Court on 16 July 2025.
