As a priority this year, Suffolk Constabulary is focussing on
reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on the
county’s roads.
Suffolk Constabulary will be taking part in a Europe wide
co-ordinated, European Traffic Police Network (known as TISPOL),
Alcohol and Drug Driving Enforcement Campaign, for one week during
June.
Officers across the county will be continuing to focus their
attention on those who flout the law, putting themselves and others
at risk by drink or drug driving.
Within Europe over 40,000 people are killed and 1.6million
people are injured through road collisions annually. Approximately
5% of drivers who are under the influence of drink or drugs are
responsible for 20% of these collisions. *
47 people were killed on Suffolk’s roads in 2006 – the aim of
the campaign is to further raise awareness of driver impairment by
drink and drugs which is considered a key contributory factor to
deaths on our roads.
The campaign will also provide the opportunity to show the
resolve of forces right across Europe in tackling this issue and to
increase the perception that the chances of being caught when
driving under the influence of either alcohol and/or drugs are
high.
Officers across Suffolk enforce drink and drug driving 365 days
of the year as part of the Suffolk Stay Safe initiative; the TISPOL
campaign will be taking place between 4th and 10th June.
Any person stopped and found to be over the legal limit can
expect to be charged and will have to attend court. Their names
will be released to the media who regularly support police by
reporting on drink and drive cases, wherever possible publishing
pictures of offenders.
Chief Inspector Martin Barnes-Smith head of Suffolk
Constabulary’s Roads policing Unit commented:
“We are committed to working with our Roadsafe partners to
reduce collisions and casualties. Drinking and drug driving, is a
year round problem; publicising campaigns such as the Europe wide
TISPOL campaign helps to concentrate the mind on the unacceptable
face of drink and drug driving.
“I want to be clear on the consequences of being caught during
this campaign – anybody charged with drink driving will almost
certainly appear in court within a matter of days. Apart from a
driving disqualification and fine, offenders potentially face a
prison sentence of up to six months.
“Drink and/or drug driving is considered to be a key
contributory factor to deaths on our roads, this is unacceptable,
and the families of those killed or seriously injured would not
have to experience such tragic circumstances had those responsible
avoided drinking, or taking drugs and driving.
“Many drivers form the opinion that if they remain below the
drink drive level prescribed by law they will be immune from
prosecution and their driving will not be affected, however, any
amount of alcohol, however small will have a detrimental effect on
the driver’s ability to control their vehicle and adapt to road
conditions and situations as they present themselves.
“The overall message of this campaign is that the only safe
limit is none.”
THE CONSEQUENCES
If you are convicted of drink driving:
- You’ll have a criminal record
- You could be fined up to £5,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 6
months
- You won’t be allowed to drink for at least a year
- You could lose your job
- Your lifestyle could change dramatically
- Your insurance costs will rocket
THE ADVICE
If you are going out for a drink:
- Book a taxi in advance to take you home
- Designate a driver from your group of friends
- Don’t get into a vehicle if you think the driver has been
drinking
- Use the bus or train to get you home
- Stay overnight
- Never offer an alcoholic drink to someone else who is
driving
- The only safe way is not to drink if you are driving
- Remember the real risk of being over the limit the morning
after the night before.
If it is suspected that someone may be drinking or taking drugs
and driving on a regular basis but an offence is not about to be
committed imminently then a message giving the persons name, the
make, model and registration number of their vehicle can be phoned
on the normal number 01473 613500 or e-mailed via the ‘Tell the
Police’ link on the Suffolk Police website
www.suffolk.police.uk
Calls can be made anonymously to Crime stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Further information on drink and drug driving can be found at:
http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/campaigns/drinkdrive/drinkdrive.htm
or
http://www.drugdrive.com