National drink drive crackdown gets underway

As Britain gears up for the party season, the annual THINK! festive drink drive campaign - now in its 30th year - swung into action last week to warn motorists about the dangers of getting behind the wheel after even just one drink.

This year the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and 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 (pictured) said: "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 six months for those caught over the limit, drink driving is an unnecessary gamble to take."

Meredydd Hughes, ACPO lead and Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police, added: "We will be cracking down hard on people driving under the influence of drink or drugs. Police officers across England and Wales will be breath testing all drivers involved in collisions, irrespective of whether they suspect an offence of drink driving or not."

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.

For further information log onto http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk

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