'Think about the mourning after' as Force launches Christmas Drink DriveCampaign
?Think about the mourning after' is the message to motorists as Leicestershire Constabulary launches its annual Christmas Drink and Drug Drive Campaign.
Officers from the Force's Road Policing Unit are reminding motorists that they could still be over the legal alcohol limit the morning after a night spent drinking.
Last year in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland a total of 159 motorists were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol ordrugs. Inspector Viv Brenchley, commander of Leicestershire Constabulary's Road Policing Unit, said: "Last year 27 collisions occurred over the Christmas period in Leicestershire as a result of drink driving. Any alcohol can affect your ability to drive, impairing your reaction time and your ability to judge both speed and distance. Drivers should always be aware that alcohol takes effect quickly but wears off slowly - so even if you don't drive until the next morning after a night out, your driving can still be impaired.
"Drinking and driving is a serious concern for the police and our communities. We will step up our enforcement and do all we possibly can to keep death and injury off our roads over the Christmas period."
The Christmas Drink and Drug Drive Campaign runs from Monday December 1 to Thursday January 1, 2009. Leicestershire's campaign supports the national Think! campaign - with brand new radio, internet and in-pub advertising - to remind drivers, and young men in particular: If you get caught drink driving you'll be processed like any other criminal. The consequences of being caught drinking and driving include:
* You WILL be arrested, taken to a police station and charged.
* You WILL receive a drink drive conviction and a criminal record.
* You WILL receive a minimum 12-month driving ban.
* You COULD be fined up to £5,000.
* You COULD go to prison for up to six months.
* You COULD lose your job or miss out on future jobs.
* You WILL have higher insurance costs.
* You WILL have to explain yourself to family, friends and your partner
The Department for Transport has also funded new digital breath testing equipment which will be used by many forces, including Leicestershire. These devices will allow officers to record information about drink driving electronically, as well as providing a much clearer picture about those who drink and drive.
Leicestershire Constabulary is encouraging anyone with information about people who are drinking and driving to report them to police by calling (0116) 222 2222 or Crimestoppers, which is free* and anonymous, on 0800 555 111.
* Please note some mobile phone service providers may charge for this call.
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Christmas Drink and Drug Drive Campaign targets young people
The shocking scene of an alcohol-related collision greeted visitors to police headquarters at Enderby last night (Monday December 1) as Leicestershire Constabulary's Road Policing Unit officially launched their Christmas Drink and Drug Drive Campaign.
The scene, which was mocked up with help from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, was used to kick off an evening event focussing on drink and drug driving and other road safety issues affecting young people inparticular.
Teachers and youth workers for children between the ages of 15 and 18 were invited to attend the event, which included hard hitting presentations regarding the wearing of seatbelts, the use of mobile phones, alcohol and drug related collisions and speeding. The presentation also looked at the devastating impact a young person's death has on their family and friends.
PC Sean Stone, who organised the event with his colleague PC James Austin, said: "Our Christmas Drink and Drug Drive Campaign is particularly targeted at young drivers. Over the Christmas period last year, more than a third of motorists arrested for drink driving were under the age of 25.
"The aim of last night's event was to get key messages across to teachers and other professionals who work with young people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. It was also an opportunity to demonstrate to schools the presentations that officers from the Road Policing Unit are able to give to classes.
"We hope that by going into schools and engaging with teenagers, we can make them aware of the dangers at a time when they are starting to ride mopeds or travel as passengers in cars driven by other young people."
Inspector Vivienne Brenchley, commander of the Road Policing Unit, said: "Young drivers are a key group with regard to fatal casualties on theroads. In 2007 a total of 27 young people under the age of 25 were killed in road traffic collisions in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. In the same age group, a further 138 were seriously injured and 1,438 were slightly injured.
"My officers don't want to respond to crashes, they want to prevent them. This presentation aims to do that by proactively educating young people about the dangers and terrible consequences of irresponsible driving. The feedback from teachers and pupils has been very positive."
Any school that would like to receive a presentation by officers from the Road Policing Unit can leave a message for PC 1644 Sean Stone by calling Leicestershire Constabulary on 0116 222 2222. Follow the instructions to leave a message and when prompted key in the officer's identification number 1644.
Anyone with information about people who are drinking and driving is urged to report them to police by calling 0116 222 2222 or Crimestoppers, which is free* and anonymous, on 0800 555 111.
* Please note some mobile phone service providers may charge for this call.
Edited by MikeTorque on 06/12/2008 at 23:54
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Police have arrested 31 motorists in the first week of their annual crackdown on drink-driving.
Officers said they were "disappointed" with the results of the first seven days of their operation on Leicestershire's roads.
In particular, police are concerned at the high proportion of people under the age of 25 found driving above the legal limit.
Among those arrested were two motorists who were still over the legal limit the morning after drinking sessions.
The number of arrests so far is on a par with previous years, officers said, and it is understood nobody has so far been found to be driving under the influence of drugs.
Inspector Viv Brenchley, commander of the force's road policing unit, said: "These 31 motorists now face a drink-drive conviction and a criminal record, as well as a minimum 12- month driving ban."
"I am very disappointed and concerned that such a large proportion of these drivers ? 10 in total ? are under the age of 25. One feels quite depressed about it, because the message does not seem to be getting through."
"Some people still insist on drinking and driving and they will start the new year without a driving licence."
"Please, if you are going out drinking, leave your car at home and arrange alternative transport."
"The cost of a taxi home is nothing compared to the cost of a drink-drive conviction."
"I would also like to remind all motorists that you don't have to be involved in a collision to be breathalysed. Also, remember that you could still be over the limit the following morning."
"Two of the 31 drivers arrested were stopped between 8am and noon. If you're in any doubt, then don't get behind the wheel."
Police are continuing to test for drugs during their campaign.
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Good says I - Our local Force has launched a traffic crime initiative today - All operational Officers have targets in respect of fixed penalties, traffic process and car-related arrests. My local nick has an ANPR equipped van - excellent tool.
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The trouble with targets is that common sense and fair play goes right out the window.
Wonder how long it will take before the first wrongly seized car emerges as the battle to hit the target gets going ?
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The trouble with targets is that common sense and fair play goes right out the window.
Mr X, you are a comedian.
What sort of "common sense" do you suggest that the police should apply to drivers over the limit?
Should the police enter into the christmas spirit and give the drinkers a few shots of single malt and send them on their way with a free hip flask provided they wind down the window and sing "The Wild Rover" at the top of their voices?
Or should they take them off the road?
Edited by NowWheels on 10/12/2008 at 23:32
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Or should they take them off the road?
Only if they're in a 4x4 ;-)
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>> Or should they take them off the road? Only if they're in a 4x4 ;-)
Well, they should be taken off even if sober. ;p
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You know perfectly well as I was referring to the targets re tickets etc as talked about in puguglys post . Your attempt to be crass has failed.
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Or should they take them off the road?
I reckon they should take them off the road. It would concern me greatly if there are traffic police out there who need a target to tell them that taking drink drivers off the road is a good idea.
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All operational Officers have targets in respect of fixed penalties traffic process and car-related arrests.
Oh dear. When will we start letting trained, intelligent professionals get on with the job they know how to do using their own initiative in this country?
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Yawn Yawn
Here we go again. Huge fan fair, huge expense, other priorities cut to concentrate on a non problem.
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Here we go again. Huge fan fair huge expense other priorities cut to concentrate on
a non problem.
Hail ye a MikaLewis cab?
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7776859.stmo
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From todays Telegraph
' Now leaders of the Police Federation , which represents 1,588 officers in the region, want talks with Mr Brunstrom over discontent about mounting paperwork and targets for penalty tickets. The federation claimed that one officer was required to stand outside a school until he had booked five motorists for not wearing seatbelts. "
In my experience of this great big world, it has not been unheard of for people to twist the truth or bend the rules in order to achieve targets set for them.
I'd like to think that my world is the real world.
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All operational Officers have targets in respect of fixed penalties traffic process and car-related arrests.
This is bad. Targets concentrate the mind on particular things, with possible exclusion of others. There's also the problem of what happens if a particular "target" can't be achieved, for some reason? Away with interference in normal policing, and send those who set such targets to work "on the bins".
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As one of those operational traffic Officers, I can safely say that we're not doing anything different than we were doing in July, August, September etc etc.
The only extra thing is that we have to inform our control room when we have carried out a breath test and the result. They note the results and pass to the press office, who come up with some long winded press release.
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Well my local rag has had a front page spread with the ugly mugs of half a dozen Traffic Officers. It announced that it intends to breathtest a driver every 12 minutes. Alongside was a named list of about 15 drivers along with their Intoximeter readings who were due to attend court. Hmmmm???
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Expats flying to UK are reporting control points being set up at the exits from airports set to catch those who had the "last chance" of duty-free on the plane.
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targets = concentrating on the dead certs to achieve the targets, so that you've got a few in the bag to cover for a potential quiet period... which can mean for example speed checks on sections of road, that for whatever reason have an artificially low limit. I'd rather the people that really needed concentrating on were dealt with not Mr or Mrs Average caught out....(i'm not talking about drink/driving either..they should all be up for grabs)
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Talking to some of the "lads" tonight they seemed to be cheerful enough bagging mobile phone users - as one said most people that do it do it because they know that they can get away with it. Nice bit of Nemesis.
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Research shows that using a mobile phone whilst driving (hands free included) is just as dangerous as drink driving.
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Meanwhile....
'This incredible footage shows a fearless woman shopkeeper tackling two knife-wielding robbers - armed with just a cup of tea.
Brave Varsha Patel, 45, was behind the counter of her village store when two balaclava-wearing men armed with 10 inch blades burst into the shop and made a grab for the till.
With lightning-fast reactions Mrs Patel threw a mug of steaming tea in the face of one assailant and launched the empty mug at his companion's head.'
Well, the lads can't be everywhere.
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Well, the lads can't be everywhere.
They use technology to assist them.
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