Campaigns Against Drink Driving This Christmas

Over the Christmas period, the government and road safety charities are stepping up their efforts to dissuade drivers from getting behind the wheel after having consumed alcohol.

Research commissioned by Think!, the government’s road safety campaign, suggests that while over 50 per cent of the population would not drive after consuming alcohol, one in ten people would consider drinking two or more drinks before getting behind the wheel. For men aged between 18 and 34, this figure increases to 19 per cent, or one in five.

On the back of this research, Think! have launched a television and radio advertising campaign which highlights the dangers of driving after just two drinks, with the hope of reducing the amount of people getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol this Christmas.

Road safety charity Brake are also running a Christmas campaign, named ‘Not a Drop, Not a Drag’ aimed at both drink and drug driving. The campaign, which is aimed at both the general public and the government, is calling for zero-tolerance on drink and drug driving. Figures such as: one in seven UK road deaths are the result of a crash where the driver was over the drink-drive limit, and a further 65 road deaths per year are caused by drivers who were under the limit, but had alcohol in their blood, lend support to the campaign.

Police forces across the country are also cracking down on drink driving over the festive period. Norfolk police have already caught 15 people drink driving, in the first week of their drink driving crackdown. 

Here are three top tips to help you avoid drink driving this Christmas:

• If you think you might drink, leave the car at home
• Stay completely dry – it can be difficult to judge how much you've drank and the effect it might have on you. If you are driving, steer clear of alcohol all together.
• Appoint a designated driver

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