Shortly after midnight on 19 September 2025, roads-policing officers in Chelmsford observed a Ford Fiesta drive through two sets of red traffic lights in Parkway. The vehicle was stopped nearby due to the driver’s dangerous driving behaviour.
A roadside breath test revealed the driver was more than two-and-a-half times over the legal alcohol limit. Further enquiries confirmed that the driver was disqualified, and the car had neither a valid MOT nor insurance.
The next day, police charged the driver — a 36-year-old man — with multiple driving offences. At a court appearance on 20th September he pleaded guilty to drink-driving and driving while disqualified, and was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, received a 45-month driving ban, and was ordered to pay court costs.
In a statement, Road Policing Sergeant Chris Bramhill warned that “driving under the influence of drink or drugs is extremely dangerous,” impairing a driver’s ability to judge speed and distance, slowing reaction times and coordination — factors that increase the risk of life-threatening collisions.
Essex Police emphasised that they will not hesitate to take “positive action” against careless and illegal driving. They also encouraged the public to report dangerous or erratic driving via the “Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP)” “Extra Eyes” initiative — a community effort aimed at reducing collisions and making roads across Essex safer.
Nationwide, drink-driving remains a major risk on UK roads. In 2022, an estimated 290–320 people were killed in collisions involving a driver over the legal alcohol limit — the highest level since 2009.
In 2023, around 5% of all casualties in reported road collisions in Great Britain occurred in incidents where at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit.
That year, the central estimate of “killed or seriously injured” (KSI) drink-drive casualties was about 1,860 — a modest decline from 2022, but still a substantial number.
In Essex specifically, the problem is pressing: in 2025 to date, 31 lives were lost on Essex roads, prompting SERP and Essex Police to intensify enforcement and community-driven reporting.
These figures show that while drink-driving rates have fallen from their peak decades ago, it still accounts for a significant portion of fatal and serious road collisions. The case in Chelmsford is a stark example of how one reckless decision — driving while disqualified and drunk — can violate multiple laws and endanger many lives.
A roadside breath test revealed the driver was more than two-and-a-half times over the legal alcohol limit. Further enquiries confirmed that the driver was disqualified, and the car had neither a valid MOT nor insurance.
The next day, police charged the driver — a 36-year-old man — with multiple driving offences. At a court appearance on 20th September he pleaded guilty to drink-driving and driving while disqualified, and was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, received a 45-month driving ban, and was ordered to pay court costs.
In a statement, Road Policing Sergeant Chris Bramhill warned that “driving under the influence of drink or drugs is extremely dangerous,” impairing a driver’s ability to judge speed and distance, slowing reaction times and coordination — factors that increase the risk of life-threatening collisions.
Essex Police emphasised that they will not hesitate to take “positive action” against careless and illegal driving. They also encouraged the public to report dangerous or erratic driving via the “Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP)” “Extra Eyes” initiative — a community effort aimed at reducing collisions and making roads across Essex safer.
Wider context: drink-driving remains a serious national threat
Nationwide, drink-driving remains a major risk on UK roads. In 2022, an estimated 290–320 people were killed in collisions involving a driver over the legal alcohol limit — the highest level since 2009.
In 2023, around 5% of all casualties in reported road collisions in Great Britain occurred in incidents where at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit.
That year, the central estimate of “killed or seriously injured” (KSI) drink-drive casualties was about 1,860 — a modest decline from 2022, but still a substantial number.
In Essex specifically, the problem is pressing: in 2025 to date, 31 lives were lost on Essex roads, prompting SERP and Essex Police to intensify enforcement and community-driven reporting.
These figures show that while drink-driving rates have fallen from their peak decades ago, it still accounts for a significant portion of fatal and serious road collisions. The case in Chelmsford is a stark example of how one reckless decision — driving while disqualified and drunk — can violate multiple laws and endanger many lives.
Essex Police
Road Safety
Drink driving
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