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6 December - Transport Secretary Launches
Yule Rue The Day Drink Drive Campaign
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Today, Monday 6
December 2004 Mr. Alistair Darling, Transport Secretary, launches the new
festive season road safety campaign, which warns of the dangers to motorists
and other people when alcohol is consumed prior to driving. The
campaign highlights the fact that it takes less alcohol than drivers think
to impair driving ability.
Figures show that 560
people were killed in drink driving related incidents in 2003, with
seriously injured being 2,600 and slightly injured 19,000. The
transport department has developed partnerships with many organisations in a
bid to support the campaign for marked improvements to these figures in
2004.
Some initiatives by the organisations backing the campaign
are:
- The display of anti-drink drive messages on milk
cartons.
- Pubs will provide non-alcoholic cocktail messages.
- Displays within selected pub chains, bars and
off-license premises.
Mr. Alistair Darling, Transport Secretary commented:
"As we enter the festive period it is essential that
motorists remember that if they are going to drink, they should either
leave their car at home or get someone else to drive. You can't calculate
your own drink/drive limit and the only safe way is not to drink and
drive"
The Governments' commitment to reducing drink drive
injuries is highlighted in their Road Safety Bill just published and some of
the measures contained within the bill are as follows:
- allow breath tests taken at the side of the road to be
used as evidence in court;
- make the worst drink drivers face a re-test;
- allow convicted drink-drivers to face 'alcohol locks',
devices which need a clear breath test before the car will start.
Mr. Darling further commented:
"The majority of law-abiding motorists are fed up
with the reckless minority of drivers who continue to take unacceptable
risks by drinking and driving. This is why we have taken new police powers
in the Road Safety Bill to toughen up the penalties for the worst
offending drink drivers and other irresponsible drivers".
Television adverts for the drink drive campaign will be
shown from 7 December 2004 to 2 January 2004, radio adverts will be
broadcast from 6 December 2004 to 4 January 2004 and adverts within cinemas
will be screened from 10 December 2004.
The main feature of this years drink drive campaign is
warning that calculating the legal safe amount of alcohol consumption
takes less than you might think before driving is impaired.
The adverts and posters graphically depict the consequences of small amounts
of alcohol consumption and then driving.
We at HSfB say - Let's make this Festive Season a happy
one for everyone, by not drinking and driving at all.
Article by Alexandra Johnston |
