The Police have vowed to stop more drivers than ever during the 2009 Christmas anti-drink driving campaign. The Christmas campaign runs from 1 December to 1 January.
Officers stopped 183,397 drivers in last year's festive campaign.
The Police aim to test more drivers than ever before during this campaign.
Drivers will be checked for alcohol in roadside breath tests, as well as illegal drugs, in a series of exercises known as Field Impairment Tests.
Police said motorists should make alternative arrangements to get home, such as using a licensed taxi or minicab.
One extra drink can mean loss of driving licence, loss of job or much worse the loss of life. This Christmas we are asking people to consider whether those couple of drinks are worth it.
Different strengths of alcohol, size of the measures and people’s metabolism can all affect the amount of alcohol in their system. There’s no such rule as "two pints and I’ll be alright’. It’s better to be safe than sorry and not drink at all if you plan to drive later. The risk of being involved in an accident increases rapidly with the amount of alcohol consumed.
If you drive at twice the legal alcohol limit you are at least 30 times more likely to cause a road crash, than a driver who hasn't been drinking.
Driving or attempting to drive whilst above the legal limit or failing to provide a specimen will result in a maximum 6 month jail sentence & fine of £5,000 plus at least a 12 month disqualification.
Other consequences of a drink drive conviction include a criminal record, possible loss of livelihood, increase insurance costs, extreme difficulty in hiring a car for around 10 years, legal expenses, social stigma.
Nationally, drink driving appears to be on the increase among young motorists aged between 17 and 24. Driving the morning after a heavy drinking bout is causing concern and there is evidence that driving while under the influence of drugs is on the increase. Since 1988, there has been a six-fold increase in the number of people killed in road accidents who had traces of illegal drugs in their body
Causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs will result in a maximum 10 year jail sentence and a minimum 2 year driving ban.
Driving or attempting to drive whilst above the legal limit or failing to provide a specimen will result in a maximum 6 month jail sentence & fine of £5,000 plus at least a 12 month disqualification.
Other consequences of a drink drive conviction include a criminal record, possible loss of livelihood, increase insurance costs, extreme difficulty in hiring a car for around 10 years, legal expenses, social stigma.
Recovery Assist Solicitors in Bury are supporting this year’s campaign.....
