Warning to drink-drivers as annual campaign is launched

IF you drink and drive this Christmas, your face will appear in the Grimsby Telegraph and online for everyone to see.

Today is the launch of our annual Christmas drink-drive campaign – and if you get caught over the limit this winter, you will be named and shamed.

The party season is here, and we are working with police to slash the number of people caught drinking and driving.

So if you don’t want to be shamed as a drink-driver, don’t get behind the wheel after you’ve had a drink.

Our campaign is run alongside the Humberside Police winter drink-drive crackdown, and has been credited with reducing the number of people caught drink-driving.

Once again, we will be naming and shaming anyone who is caught while over the limit between December 1 and January 4.

Anyone who does drink and drive will also join our online hall of shame at www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/drinkdrivers

Officers will be out in force stopping and testing motorists, and will also be targeting known drink-drivers.

Police have also launched a drink-drive mobile hotline, which anyone wanting to report a drink-driver can use.

In addition, posters will be displayed across the borough based on the BBC Traffic Cops programme, which North East Lincolnshire is regularly featured in.

The series of posters include messages such as: “You’ve watched us, now we’re watching you”.

Last winter in North East Lincolnshire, police stopped and tested 3,030 people – with just 12 positive results (0.4 per cent).

However, this summer’s campaign was our biggest to date, with 35 drink-drivers named and shamed on the front page of the Telegraph and on our website.

North East Lincolnshire’s casualty reduction officer, Pc John Mallett, said: “This is the fifth year that the Grimsby Telegraph and Humberside Police have worked together on the drink-drive campaign, and it is making the roads of North East Lincolnshire safer.

“However, it seemed that, this summer, more people took a chance, believing there was less likelihood of being caught over the summer.

“However, if you do drink and drive, the chances are you will be caught, especially around Christmas.

“There is no excuse for not knowing the drink-drive message and knowing the reasons why you shouldn’t do it.

“Whether it is because of your social conscience or because you don’t want to cause a death on the roads, the simple message is to not drink and drive.

“Although there is a legal limit, the only way to be sure you are not drinking and driving is to have nothing at all. Just one drink can impair concentration, even if it doesn’t take you over the limit.”

And revellers are being advised to avoid temptation completely, by agreeing a designated driver, or taking one of the 705 taxis in North East Lincolnshire.

Pc Mallett added: “If you are going out with friends, agree who is driving that night, or use one of the local taxi firms. There are lots of them.”

Report it

Contact Humberside Police on 0845 6060 222, Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, or call the Christmas drink-drive hotline on 07815 952321.