Reports flooded in of a vehicle careening across the M4, narrowly avoiding collisions with other cars. Three separate 999 calls described a driver exhibiting dangerously erratic behavior, swerving between lanes at high speed, prompting an immediate police response.
Officers quickly located the vehicle and initiated a stop. What followed was a frustrating and alarming ordeal – the driver, identified as Vincent Lime, was so heavily intoxicated that it took a staggering eight attempts for him to successfully provide a roadside breath sample.
When a reading was finally obtained, the result was shocking: 148mg of alcohol in his breath, more than four times the legal limit. A simple, almost disbelieving, “Hallelujah” escaped the officer’s lips, a reaction to the sheer magnitude of the intoxication.
The situation compounded further with the discovery that Lime was driving only on a provisional license. The vehicle was immediately seized, and he was taken into custody, facing serious consequences for his reckless actions.
Lime recently appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded guilty to driving with a provisional license and driving under the influence. The court handed down a 30-month driving disqualification, effectively removing him from the road for over two and a half years.
In addition to the ban, Lime was ordered to pay £85 in Crown Prosecution Service costs and a £114 surcharge, a financial penalty reflecting the severity of his offense. This case unfolded as part of “Operation Limit,” a proactive initiative focused on identifying and removing impaired drivers from Wiltshire’s roads.
PC Davis of the Roads Policing Unit emphasized the potential for tragedy. He stated that Lime’s driving was so dangerous it was remarkable a serious collision hadn’t occurred, especially given the busy Saturday afternoon traffic. The officer stressed the critical importance of planning ahead and never risking driving under the influence, even the morning after consuming alcohol.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of drink driving. It underscores the responsibility every driver has to ensure they are fit to be behind the wheel, protecting not only themselves but also the lives of all other road users. The risk, authorities reiterate, is simply never worth taking.
