Fatal crash car spells out Wiltshire's drink driving message

2:53pm Monday 1st December 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

The wreckage of a car in which a 20-year-old man lost his life forms the centrepiece of police anti-drink driving roadshow that will tour the county over the next two weeks.

The roadshow started off in Devizes Market Place today and members of the public were invited to watch a video showing the consequences of drinking and driving.

They could also try to operate a remote-controlled model car while wearing a pair of goggles that reduces their vision to that of someone who has just had six or seven alcoholic drinks in a short while.

Most compelling though, was the wreckage of a high-powered Honda car that claimed the life of a 20-year-old RAF serviceman from Lyneham.

Police stress that the driver was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision.

But Superintendent Martin Jeffery, head of operations at Wiltshire Police, said the message remained the same.

He said: "This is what your car would look like if it was involved in a high-speed collision. Do you think you would be able to get out of it alive?"

Supt Jeffery added that it is not just your life and the life of others that you are putting at risk by drinking and driving.

He said: "We are putting a great deal of time and effort into this year's campaign, with the intention of showing the public that drink driving is completely anti-social and a grave danger to other road users.

"The message from us is perfectly clear - if you take a chance on drink driving, you will be caught.

"By stepping up enforcement over the Christmas and New Year period, and with involvement and support from the public, our aim is to reduce the number of people caught, and the occurrence of incidents as a result of someone getting behind the wheel whilst under the influence."

Anyone risking driving after having drunk alcohol risks losing their licence for a minimum of 12 months. Those convicted often lose their jobs as a result.

They would also get a large fine, a criminal record and great difficulty in renewing their insurance policy.

Supt Jeffery said: “Could you live your current lifestyle without a driving licence?”

Police are appealing to members of the public to report drink driving by ringing the hotline on 0845 408 7000 and selecting Option 4.

The roadshow will be coming to Chippenham College on Tuesday December 9 and Swindon town centre, in the precinct by Debehams, on Saturday December 13, from 10am to 2.30pm.