Emergency services join together ahead of Christmas campaign highlighting the dangers of drink and drug driving
Pictured at the launch is front (left to right) Toby Gray, SFRS; councillor Paul West, Suffolk County Council; PCC Tim Passmore; and Colin Treece, EEAST; with Inspector Gary Miller at the far right of the back row. They were joined by fire personnel from the Ipswich East Fire Station and officers from the Roads & Armed Policing Team. Photo: Suffolk Constabulary.
Suffolk’s emergency services and Roadsafe partners have joined together ahead of the launch of the annual Christmas campaign highlighting the dangers of driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.
The month-long initiative began on Thursday, December 1, and continues until Sunday, January 1, in conjunction with a UK-wide operation organised by the National Police Chiefs’ Council. It will see officers carrying-out roadside checks throughout the day and night – including early morning checks – as well as intelligence-led enforcement activity.
Collisions caused by people drink or drug driving will often result in police, fire and ambulance crews all having to attend the scene and this places an additional strain on the emergency services at a busy time of year.
To highlight the wider ramifications of drink and drug driving, representatives from Suffolk Roadsafe and the county’s emergency services – including Suffolk Constabulary, the Police and Crime Commissioner, Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, and East of England Ambulance Service – officially launched the campaign during an event held at Ipswich East Fire Station earlier this week.
This year, Suffolk Police is combining with a number of other forces across the country to speak with one voice, promoting the message: “Drink Driving – Together We Can Stop It.”
The campaign will officially launch on Monday, December 5, and will seek to focus peoples’ minds that stopping drink-driving is a shared responsibility – for example, if you have friends or relatives that you know will take risks and drive under the influence, then you should do all you can to persuade them not to get behind the wheel. If you can’t stop them, then you should call the police.
Inspector Gary Miller, of the Joint Roads & Armed Policing Team, said: “I am grateful once again to our Suffolk Roadsafe and emergency service colleagues for joining together with us in launching this year’s campaign. Disappointingly, despite all the work we do to highlight the dangers of drink and drug-driving, too many people are still prepared to gamble with their life and the lives of others.
“The notion of drink-driving as one of shared responsibility is something that I 100% support. Although the person committing the offence carries the ultimate responsibility, if – for example – you know someone you have just been out drinking with is going to drive themself home when clearly over the limit, you are making yourself complicit with their actions.
“Although you are obviously not committing a criminal offence in that instance, you have to consider morally what your responsibilities are. How would you feel if that person was then subsequently involved in a serious or fatal collision? Would you want that on your conscience? I would hope most people would not.”
During last year’s campaign in Suffolk, a total of 150 motorists were arrested, with 74 people failing breath tests and 67 people providing positive drug tests. In addition, eight people failed to provide a specimen and one person was arrested for being unfit to drive through drink and drugs.
Anyone charged and bailed for drink-driving in Suffolk will appear at the next available remand court and so this effectively means that offenders could lose their driving licence within 24 hours of being breathalysed, whilst facing additional fines.
Anyone with information about suspected drink or drug driving should contact Suffolk Police, by either emailing their local Safer Neighbourhood Team – the details of which can be found here: www.suffolk.police.uk/your-area – or by calling 101.
In case of an emergency, or if you believe a crime is in progress, always dial 999.
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Don’t forget to follow the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Roads & Armed Policing Team on Twitter @NSRAPT for updates throughout the campaign.