Police highlight consequences of drink driving with launch of summer campaign

The national summer Drink Drive campaign is being launched on 1st June and Devon and Cornwall Police are again supporting this initiative.

The primary aim of the campaign is to reduce the number of injuries on the roads where drink or drugs is a factor. The campaign runs from Saturday 1 June to Sunday 30 June.

Whilst the enforcement of drink/drug driving is a 24/7 focus for the police, this campaign is intended to raise awareness of the consequences and deter motorists from getting behind the wheel if they are impaired. The advice has always been “Don’t Drink and Drive”

Specific groups of drivers will be targeted, following research that has shown they feature highly in the detection data. This includes male drivers under 25 and day time drinkers. Those who may be driving under the influence of drugs will also be under close attention.

Throughout the period of the campaign, the police will be emphasising these messages with motorists across the Force. Drivers can expect to be tested if they are involved in a collision or if stopped for an offence. Routine stop checks will also result in drivers being tested.

The intention is to raise motorists’ awareness of the social and personal consequences of being caught drink or drug driving. Whilst many will hear of the risks around driving whilst under the influence and the devasating consequences of involvement in a collision with death or serious injury resulting, there are social consequences as well.  Losing your driving licence, potential loss of employment and even your home, can all occur.

A conviction for drink driving can:

• significantly increase your motor insurance premiums.
• damage your career and/or lose you your job.
• prevent you from travelling in certain countries.
• earn you a fine, driving ban or even a prison sentence.
• cause death or injury to you or another person.

Those convicted of drink driving can expect to be banned for at least 12 months, receive a fine of up to £5,000 and/or six months in prison. Collisions resulting in a fatality, where the driver is under the influence of alcohol can carry a penalty of up to ten years in prison.

Inspector Richard Pryce, the force lead for road policing, said: “We want to continue highlighting how making a wrong decision when you’ve been drinking can have serious consequences for you, your family, your friends and the rest of your life. Making any journey while over the legal limit could have disastrous consequences and will result in the driver being arrested – it’s not worth the risk.

“In recent years, young people in particular have featured more highly in detection figures. We are seeing more drivers in general who are over the limit during the daytime and we will ensure our tests are not just focused on the evenings and early mornings.”

In June 2012, there were 817 tests conducted with 172 (21%) found to be positive and of those, 58 (34%) were drivers under 25 years old. In June 2011, there were 1,117 tests conducted, 188 (17%) were positive of which 66 (35%) were under 25. These figures include tests conducted both after collisions and those not involving collisions.

Police say that friends and family can play a part in stopping a loved one getting into a car whilst under the influence. They stress that with forward planning, if you are going to be drinking alcohol, either arrange alternative transport (bus/taxi/rail) or ensure one of the group you are with is a “designated driver” and does not drink alcohol that night.

If you have any information about drink/drug driving in your area, please call the police on 101, email 101@devonandcornwall.police.uk or in an emergency always call 999.

Alternatively you can call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org