Summer blitz on drink-driving

Emergency services are on target to cut the number of deaths on North Yorkshire's roads but as the summer season begins motorists are being warned not to put the campaign at risk by drinking and driving.

A hog roast with non-alcoholic drinks was held on the lawns of North Yorkshire County Council's headquarters at County Hall in Northallerton yesterday to underline the message that alcohol and vehicle keys are a lethal combination.

Authorities in the county have set a target of reducing the number of deaths on the roads by 95 over a five-year period.

This summer, 95 Alive – the campaign begun in 2005 by the York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership, which includes the emergency services and local authorities – is urging drivers to plan ahead if they intend drinking alcohol.

Launching its Summer Drink Drive campaign, the partnership said party-goers should use public transport, book a taxi, plan to stay overnight or make sure someone was the designated driver for the night and would not drink.

The Deputy Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police, Adam Briggs, said: "There was a perception some time ago that drinking and driving was a problem that had been solved. Sadly the reality is different.

"Yes, it has changed from where it was 20 years ago. But it still is a very big problem for us and a big problem for our communities. North Yorkshire Police's priority is about safer neighbourhoods, but the priority that goes with that is about safer roads."

Mr Briggs added: "A real big feeling I get from our communities is that people in North Yorkshire and the city of York are really concerned about road safety issues.

"So our message is very hard. What we want people to do is to go to a barbecue and have a really great time with their families and friends – but please don't drink and drive. Have a designated driver."

North Yorkshire Police were determined that if anyone ignored the advice and drove after drinking alcohol, they would be caught, he added.

Mr Briggs said: "If you are caught you could go to prison for six months, you could have a £5,000 fine and the loss of a job and the loss of a reputation."

Each year 3,000 people die or are seriously injured on roads in the UK as a result of drinking and driving. The Deputy Chief Constable added: "It is not acceptable, so we hope that the public will follow good advice.

"Have a great time. Go to a barbecue, drink something different or have a designated driver, because if you don't then the police will be there. We are determined to reduce casualties on our roads."

The 95 Alive Partnership chairman Chris Anderson, who is Deputy Chief of the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said the aim was to build on the success of the Christmas campaign when police breathalysed 50 per cent more drivers but there was a 20 per cent reduction in test failures.

He said: "We have to ensure that people don't get into a position where they have a drink.

"People will go to barbecues and to parties and there will be drink available. What we are saying is, have a plan and use a designated driver if possible to ensure that everybody enjoys what they go to and get safely home."

County Coun John Fort, who spent 30 years as a policeman, said it was important to realise that people could be affected by alcohol the morning after.

"In my experience as a police officer that is the time that people are most vulnerable. Not only are they sometimes driving in poor weather conditions early in the morning, but they are not as wide awake as they might be," he said.

During 2007 seven people died in North Yorkshire as a result of collisions involving drink driving and 21 were seriously injured.

Yorkshire Post