May 31, 2013 10.06 am This story is over 130 months old

‘Don’t send your licence up in flames’, says new anti-drink driving campaign

Don’t send your licence up in flames: Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership launched a new campaign to discourage driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs this summer.

Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership launched a new campaign aimed at discouraging motorists from driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs this summer.

The campaign focuses on the summer BBQ season, when people are more likely to enjoy a drink with friends then drive home.

In the last year, five people died and 120 were injured, some seriously, in 80 drink or drug-related collisions in Lincolnshire.

The Road Safety Partnership are reminding drivers that they have a responsibility to make sure they are fit to drive.

Lincolnshire Police will carry out roadside checks using a Breathalyser and Field Impairment Test (FIT), and will arrest and prosecute motorist that are driving under the influence of drink or drugs.

Checks will be carried out early morning, evening and night time.

The body processes alcohol at one unit per hour, but while people think they feel able to drive, it’s difficult to calculate due to a variety of factors.

These include age, gender, weight, body mass, metabolism, general health, type of alcohol and liver health.

John Siddle from the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership said: “Impairment through drink or drugs carries severe penalties for those convicted and those who refuse testing will suffer the same penalties through the courts.

“Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership reminds everyone they have a responsibility when behind the wheel to ensure they are fit to do so.

“When people are enjoying the summer BBQs, we ask you to make provision to travel by nominating a designated driver or pre-arranging a taxi home.”