Anyone who drinks and drives this season will pay the price, warn police

IF you're one of those people who think they'll be able to get away with drinking and driving this Christmas and New Year, think again.

On Monday police launched their annual anti-drink drive campaign and warned motorists that the risk of getting caught over the legal limit is higher than ever.

Every police officer in the force - not just road traffic officers - will be involved in clamping down on motorists who drink and drive throughout the festive period.

And police will also be relying on members of the public to act as their eyes and ears and inform them of anyone drinking and driving, or of areas where they think drink driving is taking place.

They want to encourage residents in Northwich, Winsford and Middlewich to call Stop the Road RATS - Ring And Tell Someone, a freephone number which has been set up by Cheshire Constabulary for the first time this year.

Sergeant Blair Wilson, of Northwich Police's traffic enforcement unit, underlined the need to clamp down on drink drivers throughout the holiday period.

"This is a campaign which all the police officers in the division are going to take part in," he said. "We have had some accidents in the area which are alcohol related, but even one or two is too many and there is no place on the road for a drink driver.

"Christmas is a family time and any accidents have a great impact not just on those involved, but their relatives as well.

"We want to make sure that doesn't happen and will do our best to ensure it is a success."

Despite figures over the past 10 years showing a significant decline in the number of people who drink and drive, police in Mid Cheshire say the number is still too high.

Last year alone, more than 2,200 people across the area gave positive breath tests when stopped.

Superintendent Peter Duffy, who is heading this year's campaign on behalf of Cheshire Constabulary, said: "The police are mindful that people drink and drive at all times of the year, however we do recognise that perhaps there is a higher risk of this during the festive period.

"With the public's help and support and the knowledge the police have of the problem, we will target our time and resources to stopping the road rats who think they are above the law."

The campaign will use extensive targeted policing to focus on specific areas and those who are thought to be drinking and driving.

It will also be backed up by a poster campaign which depicts the scene of a woman who has been knocked over by a drink driver. The message is a frank reminder of the tragedy that drinking and driving can impose - One Dead. Family Destroyed.

More than 3,000 Christmas cards will also be sent out to local businesses and organisations across the county to reinforce the message.

And all the publicity material produced for the campaign will carry the Stop the RATS telephone number in a bid to make the roads safer by urging members of the public to assist the police.

"This year's drink drive campaign has been designed to tighten the net around those people who think that they can drink and drive," said Supt Duffy.

"This attitude by selfish motorists is one that causes hundreds of casualties every year and destroys lives.

"We will be doing what we can to ensure the roads are as safe as they can be and that those people who ignore these messages are stopped in their tracks."

What is evident from this year's campaign is that the time for motorists who think they can ignore the safety message and continue to drive over the limit is over.

No one should drink and drive and with this year's campaign Cheshire Police will do their best to ensure that anyone who does, pays the price.

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