Just one drink can kill
27 Nov 2009
Just one drink can kill, is the very clear warning Police have issued to drivers at the launch of the annual winter drink drive operation in Fermanagh today (27 November).
During the safety drive, police officers across Northern Ireland will be running a series of operations throughout day and night, in the weeks leading up to Christmas and into the New Year, to catch drink drivers.
In addition, specialist Road Policing officers will be coordinating road safety operations across the border counties with colleagues from An Garda Síochána Traffic Corp.
Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland explained: “Last year drivers who had consumed alcohol or drugs caused 103 fatal and serious road traffic collisions, which resulted in 18 people dying and 121 people receiving serious injuries.
“These are particularly traumatic deaths, particularly painful and potentially life changing injuries. To put these figures into perspective, think about your favourite soccer, gaelic or rugby team. Think about their coach and manager. Think about a class of 18 school children.
“Now imagine they are all dead. Dead because of the selfish actions of someone who thought they could drive after consuming alcohol or drugs.
“I want all motorists to think about the consequences to yourself and your family of being involved in a serious collision. How would you feel if your actions resulted in you or one of your family being paralysed? How would you feel if some innocent person was killed?
”Words alone cannot describe the sights and sounds of the serious road traffic collisions which Police officers and our colleagues in the emergency services attend. Bodies broken, lives shattered.
“Already this year, 104 people have been killed in collisions on roads across Northern Ireland. We’re launching this operation in Fermanagh today because 28 people have died in road traffic collisions in this County, more than any other County.
”I do not want officers knocking on doors at any time of the year, but especially over Christmas and the New Year, to tell families that a loved one has been killed on the roads.
“During last year’s operation, we carried out over 5,500 roadside preliminary breath tests and detected 477 drunk drivers.
“Drink and drive and at best, you are likely to be caught, arrested and brought before the courts. You will almost certainly lose your licence for one or more years, will be fined, and will have great difficulty in obtaining car insurance in the future. You also risk losing your job or going to jail.
”If everyone slowed down, did not drive after drinking or taking drugs, wore a seatbelt and drove with greater care and attention then together we can reduce this preventable carnage on our roads.”
Environment Minister Edwin Poots added: “Christmas is the season of goodwill, and a time to get together with family, friends and colleagues.
“It would be all too easy to take a festive drink - at the office do or the Christmas party - and be tempted to drive home. Please don’t! Think about the tragedy of what could happen if you got behind the wheel. Think about those people who were here last Christmas but won’t be this year. Think about what their families and friends are going through. Think about the effect it would have on your family if you were killed or seriously injured.
“Leave the car at home and ask someone else to drive or take a taxi. No matter what time of the year it is – never, ever drink and drive!”
