Gloucestershire motorists getting the drink drive message
Motorists appear to be getting the message about drink driving, with just 4% stopped over Christmas being over the limit.
During the month long operation Gloucestershire Police carried out a total of 1835 tests (1755 breath tests and 80 field impairment tests) and made 69 arrests, giving a pass rate of 96%.
Chief Inspector Jason Keates, said: "The 96% of drivers tested that passed should be congratulated for making the right choices and not drinking and driving.
"The support we've had from the county's residents has been fantastic and we are sure it will continue throughout the year as our efforts to combat drink driving are not just for Christmas – we conduct breath tests every single day."
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As well as carrying out additional road side tests the 2012 campaign, Eat, Think and Be Merry, urged drivers to consider their actions using posters placed throughout the county at petrol stations, shops and on the roads. Meanwhile a branded van targeted areas across Gloucestershire to spread the message.
Dave Hornibrook, Head of The Road Safety Partnership, said: "The response to the Eat, Think, Be Merry anti drink drive campaign proves that the drink driver is clearly out of step with safe, responsible motorists in Gloucestershire.
"The results of our campaigning and enforcement activity show that it is only a small minority of motorists who think that it's acceptable to put their lives - and the lives of others around them - at risk. The vast majority of Gloucestershire's motoring public understands how dangerous it can be to drive under the influence of alcohol and we thank them for their compliance and support."
In 2011, 71 people were injured in Gloucestershire in drink drive collisions. The Road Safety Partnership are determined to see these numbers fall in 2013. They are urging drivers to help by keeping a New Years resolution to think before they drink all year round.
Garry Handley, Driver Training Manager for the Road Safety Partnership said: "We were determined to make this campaign as effective as possible. In doing so it is not praise that we look for, it is a responsible reaction from the motoring public in the county and I am delighted that they have taken on the messages this year. I sincerely hope that they will continue with this campaign in mind for the future".
Cllr Will Windsor-Clive, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: "I am very pleased that the majority of the county's motorists acted responsibly over the Christmas period but it was disappointing that a minority made poor choices and will now face the consequences. The Eat, Think and be Merry campaign has been very successful and I hope that the messages will be heeded by motorists all year round."
As part of the campaign Gloucestershire Police launched a new text-only number to report suspected drink drivers. The number remains active and the public are encouraged to keep using it if they suspect anyone of getting behind the wheel under the influence. The number is: 07860 0090 095
Comments
by Matt1006
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 11:40AM
“Agreed, Lecorche. One drink-driver on the roads is one too many. If there are 25 million drivers on the roads, 4% equates to 1,000,000. One in every 25 drivers, statistically. Hmm. How many people do you know who are drivers? More than 25, I expect.
How does the 4% failure rate in Gloucestershire compare to the national average?
What the figures don't reveal is how many more undetected drink-drivers were on the roads during the Christmas campaign. Many of the undetected will have been unwittingly over the limit the morning after a party / night in the pub / whatever. But there will have been some that weren't stopped, and weren't involved in an accident, but weren't safe to be behind the wheel at the time.
Would still like to see figures showing of all those who failed a test in the most recent campaign, how many were first offenders, and how many already had previous convictions for DD. And were there any found over the limit whilst driving whilst banned for a previous (recent) DD offence?”
by Lecorche
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 10:36AM
“Still a long way to go. 4 percent of millions of motorists is a huge number of potential lethal weapons.”