Christmas blitz on drink-drivers

By Elizabeth Reeve

HARD-HITTING Christmas campaigns against drink-drivers have been launched in Herts and Essex.

Police in Herts will be breathalysing all drivers involved in any road collisions they attend. They will also be on the lookout for any suspicious driving and will stop and check anyone suspected of committing a driving offence.

"I would appeal to those drivers who think that if they have only had one or two drinks, they are OK to drive, to think again and ask themselves, is it really worth the risk?" said Ch Insp Donna Pierce.

"It's impossible to calculate your limit - you may feel OK to drive, but when stopped by a police officer and breathalysed, you risk being over the limit and facing criminal proceedings."

Those convicted face a minimum 12 months' disqualification, a fine and possible imprisonment. "But, it could have a significant negative impact on your daily life - you could lose your job, your friends and your freedom," said Ch Insp Pierce. "If you have a collision, you may have to live with serious injury to yourself or somebody else."

The Essex Casualty Reduction Board will use a short film based on the story of a fictional motorist who has been drinking before driving his girlfriend home. They are then involved in an accident and a caption at the end reads simply: "He took her breath away".

The campaign will also include a hard-hitting video shown on giant streets screens at key locations, a four-week radio advertising initiative, thousands of beer mats and posters for pubs and clubs and banners displayed at fire stations and on other public buildings. Bluetooth technology will be used to send video footage to mobile phones in pedestrianised areas.