Police said it was “incomprehensible” that a lorry driver was more than three times over the legal limit, as it ramped up its drink drive campaign in the run-up to Christmas.
A member of the public reported the HGV driver after spotting him swerving over the road on the A169 near Malton, just before 10.30pm on Tuesday night (18 December).
The driver, a 40-year-old man, failed to provide a specimen of breath at the roadside and was arrested by North Yorkshire police.
Once in custody, he provided a sample of breath over three times the legal limit. He currently remains in custody.
Sergeant James Jarman, of Ryedale Police, said: “Drive drinking risks the lives of all road users – but to be driving an HGV whilst three times over the limit is incomprehensible. I would like to thank the member of public for calling the police.
“Our officers’ quick attendance meant the vehicle could be stopped before someone was injured or even killed.”
The arrest is one of more than 70 that have been made since 1 December, as part of the force’s Christmas drink and drug driving campaign.
Speaking about the ongoing operation, Chief Inspector Tom Ibbetson said: “We hold a zero-tolerance approach to driving under the influence of drink or drugs all year round, but our December campaign sees us conducting extensive patrols targeting drivers travelling in and out of our towns, cities and more rural locations of a night-time.”
