Please close this window to return to the LARSOA news pages

Christmas drink-drivers targeted

The annual Christmas drink-drive campaign was launched last Thursday - exactly a week after the introduction of extended licensing laws, and among concern that longer drinking hours may result in more 'morning after' offenders.

The DfT's £2m campaign targets men under 30, the people statistics suggest are most likely to drink and drive. It warns motorists they cannot calculate their drink drive limits and should therefore avoid alcohol altogether.

The drink drive training company, TTC Group, is concerned that longer pub hours may result in more people being over the limit the following morning. "With a later drinking culture, many would be caught the 'morning after' on their way to work - unaware that they had broken the law," said TTC director Jenny Wynn .

"We surveyed 4,000 offenders attending drink drive rehabilitation courses and found that almost one in five were arrested the following day. Many of these were oblivious to the fact that they were still over the limit from last night's drinking," Ms Wynn added.

Road safety teams across the UK also launched their local campaigns to coincide with the national launch.

The Cumbria safety camera partnership's campaign includes a striking poster (see above) with the question Who's taking you home tonight? , set against a picture of a taxi, police car, ambulance and a hearse.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council launched a drink drive roadshow (see pic above). Mary Ballin , executive member for planning & transportation said: "The roadshow provides a good forum for learning about the effects of drinking and driving and finding out more about the issues involved."

www.larsoa.org.uk