M4 traffic news: Drink driver banned after Swindon crash
Samuel Kevis’s Renault Clio swerved across all three lanes on the motorway near Swindon[1] and smashed into the central reservation, causing major damage to the front of his car. He was sentenced for drink driving at Swindon Magistrates Court on Monday, December 11, and banned from the roads for more than three years. The terrifying crash happened at around 2.40am on February 13.
The 30-year-old left his car and was arrested walking on the hard shoulder on the opposite side of the motorway. Kevis was breathalysed at the roadside, recording 76 micrograms per litre of breath, and a further blood sample showed that he was almost double the limit with results of 153 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, with the legal limit being 80 micrograms. At court, he was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, and pay GBP1,000 costs.
Another angle of the horror crash that saw Samuel Kevis, 30, banned from driving after crashing his car on the M4 near Swindon while under the influence. (Image: Wiltshire Police)Roads Policing Officer Craig Beales said: “It is fortunate that nobody was seriously injured in this collision. Kevis’ actions were both selfish and reckless and put other road users at risk. “This case just proves exactly why we have stepped up our road safety campaign this year trying to educate drivers on the importance of road safety and the fatal five offences which are the main contributing factors to serious or fatal collisions on our roads.
Drink driving is one of the fatal five and it is extremely frustrating that people like Kevis get behind the wheel of the car when they are in no fit state to drive. “I cannot stress enough the importance of planning your journey home if you are intending on drinking alcohol. As Christmas approaches, we’re reminding drivers not to get behind the wheel after drinking or taking drugs.
“Our Roads Policing Unit (RPU) will be stepping up patrols over the festive season, working closely with partner agencies from the Road Safety Partnership, to target those who fail to abide by the law.” Wiltshire Police has embarked on a campaign to crack down on drink and drug drivers this festive season with its Roads Policing Unit, neighbourhood teams and special constabulary all stepping up patrols over the coming weeks. Last December, a total of 112 drivers were stopped by officers suspected of drink or drug driving.
Eleven of these drivers came to police attention after being involved in collisions.