Drink driving campaign launched in Kent to target festive revellers
by Jo Earle
Youngsters are being urged to think twice before drinking and
driving in Kent this festive party season.
The message comes as Kent County Council launch their Christmas
campaign in schools and colleges across the county.
Students at MidKent College have been taking part in a test to
simulate the effects of driving with alcohol in the system.
According to figures from KCC, last year 52 people were either
killed or injured over the festive period in drink-drive
related collisions in Kent.
Above and below: Students
at Mid Kent College don beer goggles to test their reactions as
'drink drivers'
Between December 1 last year and January 1 this year there
were 1,126 people breath-tested and 222 arrested.
Sgt Hannah Brown, from the Kent Police traffic unit,
said: "The age group between 17 and 24 has been highlighted as
being the age group most at risk from being killed or
seriously injured on the roads in general.
"If we can target them as well as everyone else we run the
chance of educating a wider population.
"Figures and statistics don't mean anything to youngsters.
"To actually experience it practically and realise the
impairment you suffer even with just one pint actually makes people
think.
Steve Horton, Kent County Council's road safety team, said: "In
December 2010 the figure for people injured in drink-related
crashes was 10 and last year the figure was 16.
"It's always a concern when we see figures rise.
"We don't tend to look at numbers in isolation, we look for a
trend.
"So we will be monitoring that trend to see if it will continue
to rise or if last year was a blip.
"It just illustrates that people are still drink driving."
He said police wanted to get out the message that drink
driving is not fun. They were targeting youngsters as they were the
road users of the future.
If charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
you could get six months' prison sentence, be banned from driving,
get a criminal record and a fine of up to £5,000.
Adam Barnes was one of the students from Mid Kent College
testing the driving simulator.
He said:"When I was driving with the beer goggles I found
my reaction times slowing down.
"After doing all these practical tests today, I would never
drink and drive. It has shown me the serious consequences of
driving under the influence.
04/12/12
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