With the festive season on the horizon, West Mercia Police is teaming up with Wenlock Spring to encourage drivers to find suitable alternatives to alcohol if they are getting behind the wheel.
In the run up to last Christmas, West Mercia Police arrested 156 people for being over the drink-drive limit.
The force says any amount of alcohol can affect an individual’s ability to drive and there are numerous consequences of driving with alcohol in your system.
Therefore it is supporting ‘The Only One for the Road’ campaign, from Wenlock Spring, which encourages drivers ‘not to risk even one alcoholic drink’.
The campaign messaging is being displayed on Wenlock’s lorries.
Matthew Orme, director at Wenlock Spring, said: “Far too many people are still dying or getting injured as a result of drink-driving, which is why we’re proud to be launching a new campaign which carries a positive message and will help raise awareness of the risks.
“Highlighting the dangers of people getting behind the wheel after they have had a drink becomes even more important as we approach the festive season, which is often a time when it is very easy for people to over-indulge.
“Working in partnership with West Mercia Police, we hope to change people’s attitudes and remind them to think twice before picking up an alcoholic drink if they’re in charge of the keys.”
West Mercia Police will be increasing its drink-drive activities in the lead up to Christmas, as part of a nationwide operation spearheaded by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).
Supt Steph Brighton, West Mercia Police, said: “It’s extremely frustrating that some motorists inexcusably still drive under the influence of alcohol.
“There is no foolproof way of calculating how much you can drink and remain under the limit, or knowing how much an individual person can drink and still drive safely. Any amount of alcohol can affect your ability to drive and there are numerous consequences of driving with alcohol in your system.
“Enforcement already takes place 24/7 across the whole of our area in order to detect those who are willing to take the risk and to protect other road users. We welcome campaigns such as this and hope that more people over the Christmas period choose a suitable alternative to alcohol if they are driving.”
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