 The WEST Midlands Police are to launch this year’s drink and drug driving campaign on Tuesday, December 1. Officers will be keeping an eye peeled for offenders throughout the holiday season.
Traffic PC Steve Rogers said: “Drink driving is an issue all year, but with the more relaxed atmosphere during the Christmas and New Year period, the temptation to offend becomes greater.”
Along with high-visibility patrols in the region, the traffic unit is to set up static checkpoints at random locations to perform roadside tests on drivers.
"We urge people not to put their friends, families or members of the public at risk by drink or drug driving. Passengers can also help by refusing to be driven by someone who has been drinking or taking drugs, and by appointing a designated driver who does not drink or take drugs”, PC Rogers added.
Last year during the campaign over 4,000 drivers were tested. Though there was a 0.1 percent drop from last year’s offenders’ number, more than one in eight tested positive. “There is no such thing as a “safe” limit and the answer is not to drink at all if you are driving”, the officer said.
Nationally, almost one in seven of all road deaths involve drivers who are over the legal limit. According to the UK road safety charity “Brake”, at twice the legal limit, drivers are at least 50 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash. Research shows that men in their twenties and fifties are most likely to offend.
This year the campaign is emphasising the legal consequences of drink and drug driving, if offenders are snatched before hurting themselves or others. "If you are caught drink driving or driving while under the influence of drugs, the consequences could be wide-ranging, including the loss of your driving licence which will in turn affect your career and family life. Ultimately you could go to prison. It's not worth the risk.”
Primary sources:
http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/latest-news/press-release.asp?id=1617
http://www.brake.org.uk/facts/drink-driving
Image Source:
http://photos.autoexpress.co.uk/images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_469/car_photo_234891_7.jpgLabels: journalism |
