Four million motorists will drink and drive over the festive period – despite high-profile campaigns urging them against it. 

South East Drivers are urged to THINK! of the perils of drinking and driving over Christmas.  More people are stopped and breathalysed at Christmas than any other time in the year and the penalties that drivers could face are among the toughest in Europe.

Last December 374 people were arrested for drink-drive offences across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. During that period 25 people were arrested for drug-driving, there were 530 traffic collisions and 32 people were arrested after providing positive tests.

Police will be on the roads over Christmas, testing drivers for drink and drugs, and traffic officers have been trained to carry out tests where a driver must carry out a series of tasks and actions that help to detect the signs and symptoms of someone who has taken drugs.

Driving, or attempting to drive, while above the legal limit, or being unfit through drink, carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail, a fine of up to £5,000 and a minimum 12-month ban.
 
Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander said:

“During thirty years of our innovative, award-winning THINK! campaigns, we have more than halved the number of people killed in alcohol-related road accidents each year. This is a great achievement, but we will not be satisfied until we are sure everyone understands the risk of driving even after one drink.

‘What the THINK! campaign is saying to drivers is very simple: Enjoy the Christmas season, but remember drinking and driving do not mix. With prison sentences of up to 6 months for those caught over the limit, drink driving is an unnecessary gamble to take.”

For further information log onto www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk