The Government and Police have joined forces this week to clamp down on the menace of drinking and driving over Christmas. As London gears up for the party season, the annual THINK! Drink Drive campaign - now in its 30th year - will swing into action to warn motorists in the capital about the dangers of getting behind the wheel after even just one drink.
This year the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and Department for Transport (DfT) are combining their campaigns to remind potential drink drivers, and young men in particular, just how seriously this issue is taken. More people are stopped and breathalysed at Christmas than any other time in the year and the penalties that drivers could face are among the toughest in Europe.
Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander said: "During thirty years of our innovative, award-winning THINK! campaigns, we have more than halved the number of people killed in alcohol-related road accidents each year. This is a great achievement, but we will not be satisfied until we are sure everyone understands the risk of driving even after one drink.
'What the THINK! campaign is saying to drivers is very simple: Enjoy the Christmas season, but remember drinking and driving do not mix. With prison sentences of up to 6 months for those caught over the limit, drink driving is an unnecessary gamble to take."
Chief Supt Charles Griggs of Metropolitan Police Service Traffic Unit said: "By working with our partners to educate drivers and enforcing the law we aim to reduce the number of people driving under the influence of drink and drugs over the festive period and reduce the number of casualties on London's roads."
London Road Safety Officer, Roger Miles added: "December is one of the highest months for both fatalities and collisions involving drunk drivers, Road Safety Officers are working tirelessly over the festive season to draw attention to the very real dangers."
Despite research showing that drink driving is less socially acceptable since the start of drink drive campaigns in 1976, it still occurs across all age groups and is particularly prevalent amongst young men - 36% of male breath test failures in 2005 were aged 17-29 years.
It is impossible to calculate alcohol limits and it takes less than drivers might think before their driving is affected by alcohol. The THINK! campaign, which will run throughout December, will therefore emphasise to drivers that they have too much to lose from even one alcoholic drink.
Related Linkswww.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk
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