Drink drive campaign: "Leave your keys at home!"

Tuesday 23 September 2014

The dangers of drink driving still don't seem to have hit home as the Police caught almost the same number of drink drivers this year as last.

They stopped 91 people over the limit up to the end of August - effectively one person every two or three days and just seven fewer than last year.

The police say Islanders shouldn't be drinking any alcohol if they plan to get behind the wheel and are reminding people that those who do will have slower reaction times, impaired judgement, poor decision making and overconfidence - all of which can lead to dangerous driving, injury and death.

Road Safety Officer Philip Blake said: "Alcohol affects us all differently, if you have had a drink, even one drink, it will affect your judgement and may lead you to decide to drive when you shouldn't. The trend of pre loading before going out probably means some people are deciding to drive when they shouldn't. There is no way of judging whether you are over or under the limit.

"The advice as always is, if you are going to drink alcohol, leave the keys at home and don't drive."

Drunkenness is a big drain on police resources and officers are trying to clamp down on the amount of booze Islanders drink at the weekend to improve their health and crime levels.

The Police are supporting a national alcohol awareness campaign being run by the Association of Chief Police Officers.