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Wirral motorists warned not to drink and drive over Christmas




MOTORISTS in Wirral are being urged to think twice before getting behind the wheel under the influence of drink or drugs over Christmas.

Thousands face being stopped by police as part of their annual campaign.

It follows a successful crackdown last year, when 3159 drivers were breathalysed on roads across Merseyside. One in 18 drivers were arrested for positive, refused or failed tests.

Chief Inspector Chris Markey, from Merseyside Police's road policing unit, said: "Despite previous successful campaigns, drink-driving remains one of the essential themes in our strategy to reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on the roads of Merseyside.

"The fact is even a small amount of alcohol will impair your judgement and general ability to drive safely.

"How much you can drink and still drive safely depends on many factors and it is not worth taking the risk.

"If you are having a drink this Christmas or New Year then leave your car at home.

"My officers will be looking for people driving under the influence and you will be taken to a police station and processed like any other criminal.

"If you break the law and drive over the limit you not only run the risk of disqualification and a criminal prosecution, but you risk your own life as well as the lives of other road users.

"We are determined to do everything we can to make the roads of Merseyside safer.

"However, we cannot work in isolation and need the support of the public to be able to make a real impact.

"I urge all drivers to play their part - help us to make a difference and don't drink and drive.

"The message is clear - don't drink or take drugs and drive or you will be caught."

The last five years of Christmas drink drive campaigns have resulted in a year-on-year reduction in the number of collisions on Merseyside in which drinking was a contributory factor and this year's campaign will be looking to continue to build on this success.

The campaign aims to drive home the message that even one drink can impact on your ability behind the wheel, affecting your reaction time and ability to judge speed and distance.

This also applies when travelling the morning after as you could still be over the legal limit and unintentionally be endangering not only yourself but those around you.

Drug driving is also an ever-increasing problem across the UK, and as part of the campaign, traffic officers will be carrying out tests on individuals they suspect of driving under the influence of drugs.

Taking drugs can affect your driving ability in the same way as alcohol and therefore is as dangerous.

Anyone found behind the wheel whilst under the influence of drugs faces the same penalties as a drink driver.

THE GLOBE

what a joke, I stayed sober all over this christmas and worked and drove family and friends all over the wirral, and not once did I see a copper out and about...

Thats strange, you must not have driven far, because I saw them everywhere. Deffo a LOT of drunken pricks on the road too, doing 25mph in 40 limit roads, very indecisive at junctions and roundabouts, and swerving randomly etc, total muppets!!

I didnt get pulled, but everytime I saw them they were going the other way etc, never got tailed by one.

I did 70 miles on Xmas Day - to my dads and back, didnt see one

Maybe they had set up the random stop checks on the more major routes....

i went to liverpool xmas eve in the van seen none!, then ive been all over the place boxing day and seen 1

They were all in the pub having a drink, lol

The stopped me at 5pm yesterday,followed me from st James church to Bidston village,
checked my documents and said thank you.
off i went