Health, Safety and Environment

Christmas Drink Driving Warning

The Department for Transport (DfT) has issued a warning to remind drivers of the serious consequences of drink-driving this Christmas.

In 2006, 540 people died as a result of drink driving. In London in 2006, more than 200 people were hurt in drink drive-related accidents at weekends, with over one-third of these injured between 10pm and 3am.

To remind drivers, and young men in particular, of the dangers, the DfT has launched its annual THINK! Campaign that will include this summer's new "Moment of Doubt" TV advert, cinema and in-pub advertising and partnership marketing.

The campaign aims to convince all drivers, with a particular focus on young male drivers aged 17-29 years, that a drink drive conviction has the potential to ruin their life by highlighting a mixture of the legal and personal consequences:

• being caught and breathalysed by the police;
• 12 month driving ban;
• criminal record;
• hefty fine;
• lifestyle changes (i.e. potential loss of job, relationships or car).