Wiltshire Police, alongside Wiltshire and Swindon Community Safety Partnership, launched the annual Christmas Drink and Drug Driving Campaign on Monday 1st December.
The campaign, which aims to educate drivers about the dangers of drinking and taking drugs before getting behind the wheel, will run throughout the month from Monday 1st December to Thursday 1st January 2015.
It has been launched in support of a national campaign by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) which has teamed up with the Department for Transport’s THINK! Christmas drink drive campaign.
The Force will be stepping up roadside enforcement throughout the whole of December and into the New Year, in a determined effort to catch those drivers who ignore the warnings and put other people and their own lives in danger.
All Wiltshire officers will be taking part in this campaign, but specifically, members of the Tri Force Roads Policing Unit will be conducting high profile roadside checks at various times. In addition to this, some of the checks will be conducted in conjunction with Tri-force officers from Gloucestershire and Avon & Somerset.
The campaign raises awareness about the consequences of being caught drink or drug-driving which can include a 12-month driving ban, a large fine, a criminal record, and the serious implications for insurance premiums, once the offender can drive again. It can also have a huge impact on personal lifestyle with people losing their jobs and suffering relationship breakdowns.
Inspector Steve Cox, head of roads policing operations, Tri Force Specialist Operations Collaboration said, “Christmas is a busy time of the year with lots of social events taking place that people don’t want to miss out on. We want people to enjoy the festive season however, it’s important that you have sensible plans in place to get home safely when you’re out and about.
“Drink and/or drug driving is a very serious offence and innocent lives are put in grave danger by people who make such a senseless decision. We want to ensure that we do all we can to help keep Wiltshire roads safe and a lot of time and effort will be put in to catch those who decide to drink and/or drug drive this Christmas.
“By stepping up enforcement over the festive period and with involvement and support from the public, our aim is to reduce the number of people who consider getting behind the wheel whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.
“The message from us is perfectly clear. If you take a chance on drink and/or drug driving, you will be caught.”
To help tackle drug-impaired driving, Wiltshire Police Officers have been trained in Field Impairment Testing (FIT) techniques.
Inspector Steve Cox continued, “Whilst the police have always had, and retain, a power to arrest drivers whom they suspect may be unfit to drive through drink or drugs, the FIT tests help us to better determine at the roadside whether or not the driver may be under the influence of drink or drugs.
“I also want to remind drivers that the effects of a night out may still affect you the following morning. Every year officers arrest people the morning after the night before celebrations.”
The police and crime commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon Angus Macpherson said, “My focus is on putting the interests of victims first, and that includes victims of drink and drug drivers.
“My Christmas appeal to drivers is that they resist the temptation to get behind the wheel if they are going out to celebrate.
“Christmas is a magical time of the year. Let’s keep it that way and ensure that no family has to suffer the heartache of being told that a loved one has been killed or seriously injured by a driver who was not in a fit state to drive.”
Anyone wishing to report an incident of drink/drug driving should call Wiltshire Police on 101 and select option 4 for the Drink Drive Hotline.
In an emergency, dial 999.
