Road campaign warns 'one drink can kill'

Published Friday, 30 November 2012
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Motorists are being advised to that "just one drink can kill" in this year's anti-drink drive campaign by PSNI.

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A series of initiatives is being carried out by police to raise awareness of the dangers of drinking during the holiday season to help keep everyone safe on the roads.

Last year 429 drink drivers were detected by police, which Head of Operations Branch, Superintendent Mark Purdon described as a "disappointing" figure.

Out of those found to be over the limit, the youngest was 16 years and the oldest was 76 years, with an average age of 35.

Almost 6,500 breath tests were carried out, of which 348 male drivers and 59 female drivers were detected as being over the legal limit.

People don't accidentally have a beer or glass of wine, they make a conscious decision. It only takes one drink to impair your decision making ability. The only right decision is to leave the car or motorbike at home if you're drinking.

Superintendent Mark Purdon

"Some of these people were so drunk, they could barely stand up, it just beggars belief that some people still insist on attempting to drive after drinking," Supt Purdon said.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, police officers will run targeted operations to detect drink drivers as well as acoordinated road safety operations across the border counties with An Garda Síochána Traffic Corp.

"If you find yourself asking the question, I wonder if I'm ok to drive? Or if you find yourself trying to calculate if you are under the drink drive limit, whether that's after one drink, or the morning after a night out, just don't take the risk," Supt Purdon added.

"The consequences could be catastrophic."

Environment Minister Alex Attwood advised drivers to be responsible during the Christmas period.

He said: "It can be tempting to take an unplanned drink, particularly at Christmas parties, and consider driving home. But even small amounts of alcohol impair driving, so thinking that you can have one drink and drive safely isn't realistic."

© UTV News
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4 Comments
Ray in Carrickfergus wrote (200 days ago):
A 0 limit is not workable. If you have a glass of orange juice, rinse with mouthwash, eat a meal or dessert that has been cooked with brandy or wine, you would be breaking the law if that was the case. Of course, there is no excuse for drink driving, and it is shocking that people who can barely stand are taking to the roads, but jumping on a 0 limit bandwagon isn't going to solve matters.
Margaret in downpatrick wrote (200 days ago):
There is a discrepancy between the law which allows you to drive with a blood alcohol level of 80mg/100mls and the message which the police and DOE are trying to get across - to never drink and drive. Surely it is high time we changed the law.
Seamus in Earth wrote (201 days ago):
Stop the pussy footing around and make the limit Zero,this will avoid any confusion as to whether a person is fit to drive or not and make the roads that much safer. With the amount of taxis and other forms of public transport available this shouldn't be an issue and should have happened long ago. Sort it out.
norman.d in bangor wrote (201 days ago):
if people want to go drinking then take a taxi or bus and leave the car at home better safe than sorry
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