Police launch drink-drive campaign with shock poster

The poster juxaposes an image of merry-making drinkers with that of a wrecked car.

To launch the 2007 campaign, Sussex Police, working alongside the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership carried out drink-drive enforcement into and out of Brighton during Saturday evening. .

More than 300 vehicles were stopped so police could warn drivers that if they drank alcohol and later drove during their evening out, officers would be watching and waiting.

Out of 240 later stopped, 13 drivers were breath tested.

None was found to be over the limit but officers attended a number of collisions later in the evening and two arrests were made.

The whole evening was filmed. The results will be used as an educational tool by the road safety partnership.

Superintendent Paul Morrison of Sussex Police Roads Policing Unit said: "We want to stop people drinking before they get behind the wheel, rather than picking up the pieces later after they've been in a crash which is why we warned people before enforcement took place.

"The campaign is also strengthening the message that we will not tolerate drink-driving and warning people that we will be there to catch them if they insist on breaking the law and jeopardising theirs and other people's lives."

Across the rest of the county, 163 breath tests were carried out and 12 arrests made.

The campaign will also include further enforcement by Sussex Police, a presence by the Fire and Rescue Service and local road safety officers coupled with the poster campaign by the partnership.

The poster with its "Getting smashed tonight?"strapline will be displayed in pubs and clubs across Sussex.

A further high profile enforcement was scheduled for last night. Others across Sussex are planned on December 13, 20 and 27, focussing on different districts each evening.

Police warn: "Covert enforcement will also take place in between these days."

The poster campaign will run throughout December.

Superintendent Morrison said: "During December 2006 and January 2007 alcohol was a factor in more than 14% of casualties from crashes, compared to less than 9% during two summer months in 2006, and this is not acceptable.

"With the high-profile warnings we will be giving, followed by enforcement, we are aiming to greatly reduce this number. And with your help and some responsible driving this Christmas, we will achieve this aim."

*The Sussex Safer Roads Partnership is made up of West Sussex and East Sussex county councils, Brighton and Hove City Council, Sussex Police, the Highways Agency, HM Courts Service '“ Sussex, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.