drink-drive

Pubs will be the ‘vehicle’ for anti drink-drive push

By Annette Wayth

Planning a Big Night Out? Help us prevent drunks from driving by calling our hotline 0800 555 111 anonymously. Just tell us who they are, not who you are.

Crimestoppers Scotland has joined Scotland’s eight police forces to stop people driving when over the limit.

Our police partners are offering licensees throughout the country access to 500,000 of these anti drink-drive beer mats with the message THINK!

The coasters will carry eye-catching image of a person asleep in a beer glass shaped bed with the Crimestoppers Scotland logo on the flip side. So if you’re going out for a drink over the festive season the message is simple: “ Drink or drive….you decide”

The drink-drive ‘blitz’ distribution commences on December 8 and will run for at least three weeks and will cover a range of ages and establishments – police are not just going for ‘boy racers’, for example.

Punters are being asked to be pub and club savvy and to put road and personal safety first over the festive season in this year’s crackdown which is supported by ACPOS.

The message is a very simple one: Don’t Risk It.

Tayside Police, like all forces around Scotland, is about to embark on their festive road safety campaigns and the message to anyone who is tempted to drive after drinking alcohol is not to take a risk.

Drivers who drink or take drugs and then get behind the wheel, run an increased risk of being involved in a collision and seriously injuring themselves or others. Even if they are not involved in a collision, ultimately their appearance at court will have a major effect on their lives.

Some people consider it acceptable to have one or two drinks and then drive, as they assume they will still be under the legal limit and their ability will not be impaired. They may also think it’s okay as long as the alcohol is taken with a meal. Some even believe that by waiting an hour or two, the full effect of the alcohol consumed will have worn off.

These are myths. Even a small amount of alcohol can impair driving ability, and there is no accurate guide as to how many drinks you can have and stay under the limit.

Inspector Gordon Taylor, head of road policing in Dundee has seen what can happen as a result of drink driving and he is also aware of the long-term consequences can be for the person who committed the crime.

“What I would say is that it is quite simply not worth the risk,” he said. There is far too much to lose. You will be detained by the police, but on top of that there are the grave consequences of being involved in a collision, which could cause injury or death to yourself or others. The dangers are very real.

“If you are caught, you risk losing your license and your job and there is obviously a lot of stress associated with that. If you have been involved in a collision you have to live with the consequences of that for the rest of your life.

“If you are going to be having a drink then you use alternative means of transport. Use public transport or arrange to have someone pick you up. Come to an arrangement whereby you drive on one occasion and on another day someone else will drive.

“There are pressures there during the course of the party season, but it is easy to arrange transportation beforehand. It is just not worth taking the chance.”

Another important thing to remember is the time it takes alcohol to go through the system.

Inspector Taylor added, “Everyone reacts to drink differently. Although you may feel ok after a glass or two of wine, or a couple of pints, the chances are you will be over the limit. Simply put, it is safer just not to drink any alcohol at all if you are intending to drive.

“The other point that is important to stress is that you should always make allowances for the next day.

“It takes some time for alcohol to go through the system and there is a strong chance that you could still be over the limit the next morning. Responsibility for your actions under the influence of alcohol doesn’t end when you get home from a night out. The next day it is worth organising alternative transport if you have to go somewhere soon. If you are in any doubt whatsoever then you should just not risk it.

“It is also worth mentioning that there is a community responsibility to ensure that drink driving does not take place. If you are aware of someone who is drinking and is about to drive somewhere then get in touch and we can take steps to ensure that irresponsible actions do not take place. Contact Tayside Police on 01382 223200 or any police office if you suspect this is going to happen.

Stewart McCulloch, Chairman of Crimestoppers Scotland commented: “ Pubs and clubs will be at the forefront of the latest anti-drink-drive campaign. We hope that together with the police we can reach out to revellers and help them to make the right decision like leaving the car keys at home pr taking a taxi if they’re going out on the town over the festive season. Our anonymous hotline 0800 555 111 is there to help Scots.”