THE number of road traffic checks carried out by officers from Kent Police is to be stepped up as part of the force’s Safer Summer campaign.

The stop-checks will be increased in a bid to help identify motorists whose behaviour suggests they could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The initiative means officers from across the county will stop drivers for breath tests as well as other simple tests to establish whether they are fit to drive.

Police say research has shown drink or drugs are linked to one in six deaths on the county’s roads.