Reminder From Avon and Somerset Police To Think Before You Drink!

A reminder from Avon and Somerset Constabulary to think

before you drive this Christmas

Police are warning that there will be no let-up in their

campaign to keep drink and drug drivers off the roads of Avon and Somerset this

Christmas and New Year.

They will continue to make stop checks of vehicles and target known hotspots at

peak times to emphasise the message and catch offenders.

Since the Operation Tonic campaign began on December 1, police have arrested

151 drivers, 12 of them for driving under the influence of drugs. They have

stopped 9741 vehicles and breath-tested 1458 drivers.

People are again being reminded to use mobile phone texting to report drink or

drug drivers. So far 22 text messages have been received.

People are asked to text the word drunk to 81819 and send in information about

someone who has got behind the wheel under the influence. The messages arrive

in the police control room and are treated in the same way as an emergency 999

call.

Chief Inspector Yannis Georgiou of Avon and Somerset's Operations and Roads

Policing Unit said: "Getting arrested and facing the prospect of losing

your driving licence turns what should be a merry Christmas into a miserable

one.

"We are determined to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries

caused by people drink and drug driving not just at this festive time, but all

year round. Our message loud and clear is that drink or drug drivers will be

stopped and arrested and banned from the roads. Drivers must realise that there

is no safe drinking limit – other than not drinking at all."

Tonic is part of the force's Operation Relentless campaign – reducing death,

serious injury and crime on the roads of Avon and Somerset. Drink/drugs driving

is one of the so-called 'fatal four' offences, together with speeding, not

wearing a seat belt and using a mobile phone while driving, that are know major

causes of collisions.