A drunk driver crashed into the store front of a Waitrose in West Byfleet recently, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake.

An image taken at the scene was posted by Surrey Roads Policing Unit (RPU) on Wednesday August 19.

It showed debris littering the forecourt of the Waitrose in West Byfleet, which is located near the train station on Old Woking Road.

Police attended the driver who sustained some injuries in the crash, but a spokesperson said their sympathies "quickly evaporated" after a breath test for alcohol was conducted.

In a short statement posted to Twitter alongside the image, the spokesperson said:

"After crashing through a wall and nose diving into Waitrose car park in West Byfleet, this driver was lucky to only have minor injuries.

"Our sympathies quickly evaporated when he provided a roadside breath sample of well over twice the legal limit."

According to the Drink Aware campaign, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the alcohol limit for drivers is 80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath, or 107 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of urine.

Accordingly, Surrey RPU suggested the driver in question had over 70 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of his breath when tested after the crash.

In most other European countries, the limit is less than in the UK, usually 50 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood.

Drink driving in the UK carries a number of possible penalties including:

  • 3 months’ imprisonment
  • up to £2,500 fine
  • a possible driving ban

According to UK government data there were 8,700 reported accidents related to drink driving in 2018 alone, causing some 5,900 casualties and 210 deaths.