Speed seminars fund drug drive campaign on Humberside

The Humberside Road Safety Partnership, which includes Humberside Police and the councils of Hull City , East Riding of Yorkshire and North and North East Lincolnshire, has using funds raised from speed seminars to finance a local radio campaign targeting drug drivers.

The ad, which uses the voice talents of students from a local sixth form, ran over the Christmas and New Year party period on Viking Radio.

" We have been pushing the drug drive message since the mid-90s using flyers and posters but we’ve never had enough money to target the key audience through the best medium until now," said Hull City Council RSO Mark Jessop.

Information from police and drug action teams in the Humberside area indicates that driving after taking ‘recreational’ drugs is widespread with ‘e’s being the current drug of choice.

" There is a general belief among young drivers that while there is a real chance of getting caught for drink driving, drug driving will go undetected," Mark Jessop added. "Humberside Police now have about 100 officers trained in field impairment testing techniques but legislation is lagging behind the problem."

The local newspaper has also supported the campaign with in-depth follow up articles and editorial.

The Humberside Road Safety Partnership provides speed seminars as an educational alternative to prosecution for certain speeding offences. Drivers pay a fee of £50 for the two hour course. The fee covers the costs of running the scheme and any surplus must be spent on casualty reduction projects.

Around 4000 drivers attended seminars in 2002.