Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police Safer Roads Partnership is launching a publicity campaign to raise awareness of the issues around drink and drug driving during the festive period.
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“This campaign is about saving lives and serious injuries to road users especially during the Christmas festivities and drivers are urged to be very sensible and not drink or take drugs at all if driving and to remember that they are very likely to be over the limit the morning after”.
This is one of our main campaigns of the year and, while it is nothing new for an anti-drink-drive campaign to be hard-hitting, this time around we have made a decision to bring home the harsh realities of the potential fatal consequences of drink-driving by having a morgue as the main focus of the campaign.
“Some prescription drugs can also put you over the legal limit, and anyone who is stopped and found to have excess levels of alcohol or drugs in their system will be prosecuted”.
This was followed by a summer crackdown which saw CMPG officers make 69 drink-drive arrests from 259 breath tests – a hit rate of 26 per cent.
Extra officers will be out on the roads – and motorists will see extra attention on those under the influence of drugs. warning people not to find themselves on too big a high this Christmas as they prepare for the first winter under the new drug driving laws.
“The number of tests carried out in comparison to the positive readings shows it is still a minority of people, however the fact that we had more than 180 positives in a month across the two counties previous year shows it is still a significant minority”.
“Those who use illegal drugs are not only committing an offence by taking them, but if they then get behind the wheel, they’re breaking the law twice”.
A number of intelligence-led operations will also be held to clamp-down on people who are known to drink and drive.
Drivers who either provide a positive breath test or fail to provide one can lose their licence for at least a year, face a six-month prison sentence or be fined up to £5,000. “You might think you are ok and that you will get away with it – our message today is that you won’t”. New testing kits will allow officers to set up testing stations on the roadside.
Crawley residents can text Sussex Police on 65999 with the details of people they suspect of drink or drug driving. You know if you have taken drugs – now we will know at the roadside. Importantly, it is hard to calculate how long alcohol may stay in your body if you are driving the morning after so the safest option if you are driving is to drink no alcohol at all.
“Do not be tempted to get a lift from someone who will be over the limit as you are putting yourself in danger too”.
“Drinking and driving simply isn’t worth the risk”.
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You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
