‘DON’T take the risk’.
That's the clear message given by police this December as they launch their new drink and drug driving campaign.
Dorset Police have launched a new drink and drug driving campaign aiming to bring to people’s attention not to take substances and get behind the wheel as the country enters the festive season.
Dorset’s Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said: “Don’t risk it. Don’t put yourself at risk and don’t put other people at risk because it’s not just the now, the moment, it’s the next morning as well.”
The PCC, at the launch of the campaign, said a month of action is taking place to protect the roads from people committing the offences.
He added: “Everybody wants to go out and have a good time around Christmas, but it’s about making certain that good time doesn’t affect their own lives and other people’s lives in a way that changes them forever.
“It’s not just about the extra drink – there are all sorts of ways of getting alcohol into your system such as through the food you eat when you go to a posh restaurant.”
Dorset Police has also launched a campaign called Lift Legend, which offers a voucher for a free soft drink to the designated driver after the first soft drink is purchased at one of the 30 venues participating in Dorset.
Read more: How to spot drink driving and what to do if you suspect driving under the influence
The Kings Arms, in Wallisdown Road, is one of 30 venues in Dorset taking part in the campaign.
Landlady Angie said she is “harsh” when it comes to drink driving after her dad was involved in a crash with a drink driver.
She said: “I know the effects it can have. I will take the car keys from anybody I suspect is going to drink drive and I am quite happy to do that.
“If they don’t like it, off they pop. I have no shame in phoning the police on people I suspect are drink and drug driving.”
Superintendent Chris Naughton, of the specialist operations department, said: “Despite long-term reductions, drink and drug driving still accounts for 15 per cent of road deaths and almost 10,000 casualties nationally each year.
“During last year’s Christmas campaign, officers in Dorset carried out 563 breath tests and charged 110 people with a drink drive-related offence.”
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