Warning to festive drink drivers
This is a message from Neighbourhood Alert Information sent on behalf of Nottinghamshire Police
Message sent by
Jason Crofts (Police, PC 1146, West Bassetlaw, East Bassetlaw & Sherwood)
Nottinghamshire Police is warning motorists about the serious consequences of drinking and driving over the festive period.
The force is backing the anti-drink and drug driving campaign being launched by the Association of Chief Police Officers on 30 November 2012.
It also runs alongside the Department for Transport’s THINK! campaign and both are aimed at highlighting the devastating impact that driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs can have.
Chief Inspector Andy Charlton said: “The message is clear – the only safe number of alcoholic drinks you can consume before driving is zero.
“If you’ve been drinking you should not be getting behind the wheel.”
As part of the crackdown officers from Nottinghamshire will be carrying out roadside breath tests throughout December and the New Year.
The legal drink drive limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 milliliters of breath.
Last year 11,895 motorists in the county were breath tested with 1,242 people blowing positive for alcohol or refusing to take a test.
In December alone 1,833 tests were carried out on Nottinghamshire’s roads with 123 being recorded as positive.
There were also 410 alcohol related collisions in 2011 with drink being a factor in 7.3% of all collisions.
Between January and the end of October this year, there were 321 alcohol-related collisions which accounts for 7% of all crashes.
Chief Inspector Charlton added: “It seems that a minority of motorists are still prepared to risk driving after drinking and the scourge of drink driving has not gone away.
“We are determined to catch those who put themselves and other road users at risk but don’t wait for us to pull you over.
“Make the decision not to start the New Year with a criminal conviction, or worse, a guilty conscience because your selfish actions have hurt others.”
Watch the Think! campaign’s advert