Police aim to cut car accidents with new £740,000 scheme

Published: 13/06/2013

Police are testing thousands more drivers throughout June as part of the Government’s summer crackdown on drink driving.

The campaign will also feature radio adverts and pub posters highlighting the financial cost drink driving could have. Taking into account fines, legal fees, increased insurance premiums and even job loss, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has calculated this figure to be in the region of £50,000.

THINK!, the Department for Transport’s road safety information provider, has also produced a shocking online video to accompany the campaign:

Statistics show one in every 20 road traffic accident casualties were as a result of someone driving over the legal limit. In 2011 alcohol impairment contributed to over 5,000 road accidents. Despite this, there are no plans to lower the current drink driving limit.

Chief Constable Suzette Davenport, Section Head of the Association of Chief Police Officers’ (ACPO) Road Policing, comments:

“Police take this offence [drink driving] very seriously and experience shows us that courts take a very dim view of anyone who is caught.

“It is appalling that in 2013 we still have to remind people not to drink or take drugs and drive. To combat this, we will be stopping and testing thousands more drivers throughout the month of June.

“These deaths are avoidable if drivers simply make the decision not to drink or take drugs and drive, or make alternative arrangements to get home from summer time events.”

Content correct at time of publication