Police launch annual drink-drive campaign

Double Le Mans winning Aston Martin racing driver, Darren Turner, joined police at the launch in Thatcham

PARTY-GOERS in West Berkshire are being warned to think before getting behind the wheel of a car this festive season.

Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary have launched an annual campaign against drink and drug driving, with the aim of making the region's roads safer.

Last year, 5,156 drivers were breathalysed across the Thames Valley during the month-long campaign, with 261 drivers providing positive results.

Double Le Mans winning Aston Martin racing driver, Darren Turner, joined police officers in Thatcham on Monday to help launch the campaign.

The 37-year-old, who took part in a video last year to illustrate the effects of taking to a track in a racing car simulator while under the influence of alcohol, said it was interesting to see the drop in performance after a few cans of lager, adding that everything was measurable.

He said: “In racing, lap times are critical and two seconds can be a huge amount.

“Mistakes were happening at a rate of one or two per lap.

“I thought I was concentrating harder, but there were parts where I was trying to attack the corners harder and faster and that was just crazy.”

Police have said that as part of Operation Tipple, they will be carrying out dedicated road checks, testing all drivers involved in collisions, along with anyone who has committed a traffic offence or is suspected of drink or drug driving.

However, Insp Colin Clark, who is leading the campaign for Thames Valley Police, said any vehicle could be stopped at any time, day or night, in towns and rural areas.

All drivers who provide a positive breath test, refuse to provide or fail to provide a breath test, face losing their licence for at least 12 months and could also be jailed for six months, or pay a fine of up to £5,000.

Head of Roads Policing in Thames Valley and Hampshire, Supt Chris Brown, said: “Collisions involving alcohol or drugs not only devastate the lives of victims and their families, they also ruin the lives of offenders, who could face a lengthy driving ban or imprisonment.

“As well as having to live with the lifelong guilt of having killed or injured someone through their reckless behaviour, offenders could also lose their job, home and livelihood.”

He advised anyone going out drinking over the festive period to arrange alternative transport, or have a designated driver.

Police will use Twitter feeds to update people during the month-long campaign, which runs until January 1.