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Voluntary test to cut down drink driving
A MONTH-LONG campaign to target drink and drug drivers has been launched in South Yorkshire in the run up to Christmas and New Year.
Throughout December officers will not only be breath testing motorists they suspect of driving under the influence of drink or drugs, those involved in collisions and those believed to have committed driving offences, but for the first time they will also be asking other drivers to be voluntarily tested.
If a roads policing officer has any other contact with drivers, even if they do not suspect that an offence has been committed, they will ask them to voluntarily take a test. Officers will be looking for suspects at all times of the day, with police chiefs warning that they will be extra vigilant in the evenings and mornings.
Chief Inspector Andy Male, head of roads policing for South Yorkshire Police, said: “It is clear that drink driving kills people and is a factor in road traffic collisions.
“It is an all year round issue that takes on a special relevance and poignancy at this time of year.
“We hope our high profile awareness raising will help remind drivers that drinking and driving wrecks lives.
“In our summer drink drive campaign 209 people across South Yorkshire were arrested as a result of drinking and driving. I would be happy if over the festive period we had no drink or drug-related serious or fatal traffic collisions and no positive breath tests.
“Unfortunately lives will be ruined by being involved in a road traffic collision caused by a drink driver, a number of drivers will ignore our advice and be breathalysed resulting in them losing their livelihoods.”
n Bar staff in North East Derbyshire will be handing out football-style red cards to punters deemed too drunk to serve.
The cards will also be handed out to customers thought to be underage and who do not have ID to prove their age.
They are designed to help staff avoid arguments with unhappy customers and bear the slogan ‘I don’t think so’ and state the refusal to serve them is non-negotiable.
The cards are part of a new campaign aimed at encouraging responsible drinking over the festive season.
Posters are also on display across the region reminding people to think twice about the amount they are drinking.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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