A Zimbabwean motorist has been handed a 17-month driving ban and ordered to pay £556 after being caught driving on a UK motorway with an alcohol reading almost twice the legal limit.
Enock Chitsara, 42, of Llanybydder in Carmarthenshire, was arrested after police intercepted his Ford Ranger on the M5 following reports of an erratic driver.
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Breath Test Reveals High Alcohol Reading
The seriousness of the incident became clear when Chitsara underwent an evidential breath test after being taken into custody.
According to H-Metro, the test recorded 60 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, compared with the UK legal limit of 35 microgrammes.
Chitsara was subsequently charged with driving over the prescribed alcohol limit and appeared in court on Monday.
The court disqualified him from driving for 17 months and imposed fines totalling £556.
Motorist’s Driving Raises Alarm
Chitsara’s arrest followed a call from a member of the public at about 11.30pm on Sunday.
The caller had raised concerns about a motorist who was reportedly driving erratically in the Bridgwater area of England.
Police were able to identify and locate the vehicle using Automatic Numberplate Recognition technology.
The Ford Ranger was later found near junction 22 of the M5 northbound before officers followed it towards Gordano Services at junction 19.
Officers Stop Ford Ranger At Services
Police said they observed the vehicle moving between lanes and braking unpredictably during the journey.
The vehicle was also seen travelling as slowly as 28mph before leaving the motorway and entering Gordano Services.
Officers then stopped the pickup and arrested Chitsara.
At the time, police said he appeared drowsy and had a strong smell of alcohol. A roadside breath test subsequently indicated that he was well above the permitted limit.
Police Highlight Danger To Other Motorists
PC Jack Keane said the driving posed a serious danger to other people using the motorway.
“Drink and drug driving puts lives at risk and there is simply no excuse for getting behind the wheel while impaired.
“The actions of this driver posed a significant risk to everyone else using the motorway that night.
“Thankfully, information provided by a member of the public allowed officers to intervene and remove him from the road.”
Avon and Somerset Police also encouraged people to report suspected repeat drink- and drug-driving offenders, saying such reports could help prevent serious or fatal collisions.
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