FESTIVE revellers are being urged to talk about they how plan to get home as Warwickshire Police launch their Christmas drink drive campaign.
Police chiefs are determined to drive down the number of people killed or seriously injured on Warwickshire’s roads.
Eleven people in the county lost their lives as the result of a collision where drink or drugs was a factor in the two years from
April 2016. Over the same period 84 people suffered serious, often life changing injuries.
Insp Jem Mountford said: “We are asking everyone in Warwickshire to play a part in reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured due to drink driving by talking openly to friends or family before you go out drinking about how you and they are going to get home later.
“During the festive season the temptation to drink and drive is likely to be higher than at other times of the year. However it could be as simple as encouraging them to book a taxi or get a lift from a sober friend, or to check local public transport timetables making a note of the time of the last bus home.”
Police are also asking the public to provide information about anyone they believe may be drink or drug driving in Warwickshire by calling 101. Reports can also be made anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
While most drivers don’t drink or take drugs before getting behind the wheel, Department for Transport research found 20 per cent of young men have had two or more drinks before driving, and around a further ten per cent had considered it.
And alarmingly a third told researchers they felt it would not impact on their driving.
Police say this is concerning as research from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) shows a second drink doubles a driver’s chances of being involved in a fatal accident.
Police are keen to dispel myths such as men can drink two pints of beer and be under the limit, and that women can drink a pint of beer or two small 175ml glasses of wine and be under the limit.
Research shows that the amount of alcohol in drinks varies from one drink to another and the way alcohol affects people depends on weight, age, sex and metabolism, the type and amount of alcohol being consumed.
* The drug driving law was amended earlier this year to include legal limits for 17 controlled drugs both illegal and prescription. The limits set for each illegal drug vary, but are all extremely low – taking even a very small amount of an illegal drug could put drivers over the limit.
For prescription drugs or over the counter medication, check with a doctor or pharmacist if unsure about whether these will affect driving ability.
