The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) launched its anti-drink and drug driving campaign recently, which will focus on the consequences of drink driving, people driving the morning after a night of drinking and having designated drivers.
Road safety messages will be delivered through a series of initiatives across Cheshire and will run alongside the national campaign by ACPO.
Last winter, there was a rise in the number of people breathalysed within Cheshire − 3273 compared to 3089 in 2011 − although those providing positive tests was down.
ACPO national roads policing lead, Deputy Chief Constable Suzette Davenport, said: "Drink driving is entirely avoidable, there is no excuse and no good reason. If you choose to drink and drive, you face a £5,000 fine, a 12 month driving ban and a criminal record − and that's if your drive home was incident-free. There are obviously far greater consequences too.
"Those who think they are fit to take the risk of driving while intoxicated are amongst the most selfish in our society − they spare no thought for themselves and, even more they spare no thought for the lives that they are capable of destroying in the blink of an eye."
ACPOs enforcement campaign will also target drivers who do not think they are breaking the law but may be over the legal limit by the time they get into their cars in the morning. Police forces will be taking to roads across the county to stop and check drivers, where those found to be over the limit will face prosecution, which can lead to a jail sentence.
During last year's winter drink driving campaign 157 arrests were made, compared to 175 arrests in 2011.
Assistant Chief Constable, Ruth Purdie said: "Our message to all drivers is, if you know you have to drive, don't drink and if the thought of going out and not drinking is too much to bear, don't drive. If you are driving under the influence of drink or drugs, we will be watching out for you, we will catch you and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Cheshire Police will be highlighting the consequences of drink driving the 'Think' car around the county. The car was donated to the emergency services by the Wilson family, whose son Matthew was tragically killed in a rural road collision in October 2010.
Matthew, 21, was killed instantly when his car left the road and collided with a tree. He was one and a half times the legal alcohol limit but had not been speeding − the vehicle at impact was estimated to be travelling only 43mph in a 60mph speed limit. The 'Think' car is used at public events around Cheshire to deliver drink driving messages and road safety awareness and will be out and about throughout December.
Photo: Dean and Dee Wilson with the 'Think' car.
