A DRINK driver who crashed into a car as she waited for her fast food order has been banned from getting back behind the wheel.

Sally Thompson, 37, was arrested after she collided with a vehicle in the queue of a drive-through restaurant in High Road, Pitsea - believed to be McDonald’s - at around 10.40pm on October 28.

Thompson, of Malwood Drive, Benfleet, failed a roadside breath test and was taken into custody where she was later charged with drink driving. She was found to be twice over the legal limit.

She pleaded guilty to the offence at Basildon Magistrates’ Court and was disqualified from driving for 23 months and fined £1,152.

She was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

Adam Pipe, casualty reduction manager at Essex Police, said: “Sally Thompson admitted consuming alcohol before getting behind the wheel of her car.

“When breathalysed, she blew 90 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – more than twice the legal limit of 35.

“On the night of her arrest, she made the foolish and selfish decision to drive knowing she had consumed too much alcohol to do so.

“Luckily she was involved in a very minor collision in which no one was injured but the outcome could have been very different one.”

Essex Police launched its Christmas campaign in partnership with the Safer Essex Roads Partnership on December 1 to highlight the tragic consequences of drink and drug driving.

This year’s campaign aims to target not just those getting behind the wheel but the friends and relatives who know about their offending.

Mr Pipe added: “Drink and drug driving risks and ruins lives and tears innocent families apart.

“We don’t want you to know how it feels to deal with the consequences.

“Please help us keep the roads safe this Christmas.

“Please don’t get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking and report drink and drug drivers to us by calling 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously.”

To follow the progress of the campaign, search for #howitfeels on Twitter, follow @essexpoliceuk on Twitter or go to facebook.com/essexpoliceuk A total of 44 drivers have been arrested since the campaign launched.