WITH 82 people injured in alcohol related incidents on Buckinghamshire roads this year so far, motorists are being reminded of the dangers of drink driving as the festive season approaches.
As part of this year’s Department of Transport (DfT) message, leaflets and posters have been sent to businesses, garages, leisure centres, petrol stations and libraries by the Road Safety Team at Transport for Buckinghamshire to remind drivers about the potential consequences.
During the festive period in 2010, more breath tests were carried out (1166) an increase of 30% on 2009, resulting in 49 positive tests, an increase of 22% from the previous year. The average age of the person arrested for drink driving was 35 years old.
Peter Hardy, Buckinghamshire County Council Cabinet Member for Transportation said: “Any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive, so the only safe option is not to drink alcohol if you plan to drive. The legal consequences of a drink driving conviction are severe and long lasting.”
The advice at this time of year is:
**There is no failsafe guide as to how to stay under the legal limit or how much you can drink and still drive safely.
**If you are drinking alcohol this Christmas, do not drive.
**A drink driving endorsement will remain on your license for eleven years.
The DfT campaign will run from Thursday 1st December 2011 through to Monday, January 2, 2012 and will coincide with the Association of Chief Police Officer’s Christmas enforcement activity.
To reinforce this message, Police Licensing officers have visited pubs and clubs throughout Buckinghamshire giving out beer mats from the Road Safety Team, highlighting the dangers of drinking and driving with the heading “How much will your next round cost you?”