DON’T drink anything if driving this Christmas.
That is the clear festive message from Warwickshire Police as the force launches its annual month-long Christmas campaign to raise awareness of the issues around drink and drug driving.
Warwickshire Police Asst Ch Con Richard Moore said: “There are still people out there who feel they can gamble with drinking and driving and think they know how much the limit is but the simple fact is, there is only one way of being sure that you are safe to drive and that is not to drink at all.
“Any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive. Worryingly, and despite many warnings over the years about the dangers of drink/drug driving, there are still far too many reckless drivers ignoring the devastating consequences.
“Alcohol and drugs both affect your ability to judge speed and distances accurately and slow down your reaction time. We’re urging people to think hard about the consequences that a collision and a conviction could lead to.”
Eight people have been killed and 81 seriously injured on Warwickshire’s roads over the past three years following crashes where drink or drugs were a contributory factor.
Asst Ch Con Moore added: “Enforcing the drink and drug drive law is a 24/7 commitment for Warwickshire Police and to reflect this officers will be enforcing at all times of the day and night.
“There is no foolproof way of calculating how much you can drink and remain under the limit, or knowing how much an individual person can drink and still drive safely.
“Importantly, it is hard to calculate how long alcohol may stay in your body if you are driving the morning after so the safest option if you are driving is to drink no alcohol at all.
“There are plenty of alternatives available with public transport, taxis and sharing designated drivers. Pedestrians are also being encouraged to stay safe during the festive season and to plan safe routes home and to drink responsibly.”
