Do you fit the profile?
Warwickshire County Council’s Road Safety Unit, Fire & Rescue Service and Warwickshire Police have joined forces to target drink driving in men aged between 35 and 50.
On average, around 3000 people are still killed or seriously injured in Britain every year in drink drive related collisions. Despite many years of campaigning by local Road Safety Officers, Police and Fire & Rescue teams, drinking and driving still occurs across a wide range of age groups. In Warwickshire it’s men aged between 35 and 50 who appear to be a particular problem. This is the age group that gave the most positive breath tests following a collision.
That is why Warwickshire County Council’s Road Safety unit and Fire & Rescue along with Warwickshire Police are appealing to men of this age group to make the decision, act responsibly and either drink or drive.
Stan Milewski, Senior Road Safety Officer at Warwickshire County Council said: “This Christmas we’re asking drivers to put their car on ice, and make alternative arrangements if they intend to drink. Any amount of alcohol can impair reaction times – the consequences can be devastating, not just at Christmas, but at any time of the year. There’s no fast way to get alcohol out of your system - a shower, cup of coffee or other ways of `sobering up’ will just not help.”
Maria Smedley, Community Fire Safety Manager, Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service said: “It’s great to see services within Warwickshire coming together to reinforce the message. The impact of alcohol is regularly witnessed by our fire fighters, but the most catastrophic effect is when someone is seriously injured or killed in a accident on the roads. With this campaign, we are urging people to think carefully about the potential consequences their actions would have on their families and friends, not to mention those who would attend the scene of total devastation.”
Chief Inspector Chris Lewis from Warwickshire Police said:
“Even though many lives have been saved in the last 13 years thanks to drink drive campaigns, it is still a concern that some mature drivers in Warwickshire see nothing wrong with drinking and driving and are reluctant to change.”
In a bid to reach this at risk group, a series of posters, beer mats and other promotional items will be distributed to pubs, clubs and bars around the county.