Anti drink-driving campaign focuses on 'Just One'

Drink and drive over the festive season, there is a good chance that you will be caught by police, and if you are caught you will lose your licence.

That was the tough message issued by local police marking the launch of the annual seasonal anti-drink driving campaign.

The campaign is backed by a television, cinema and newspaper advertisement campaign being used on both sides of the border.

Commissioned by the DoE in Northern Ireland and the National Safety Council in the Republic, the ‘Just One’ advertisement supported by AXA insurance, reflects the fact that just one drink will impair judgment.

Launching the campaign, Assistant Chief Constable Roy Toner, said: “Drinking and driving kills. It maims. It wrecks families. One in every five deaths on Northern Ireland’s roads is down to drivers who have taken alcohol or drugs. That is shameful and unacceptable, because it could be avoided and because every single one of us can do something about it.

"The vast majority of people in this area just do not drink and drive. But for the irresponsible minority which continues to do so our message is straightforward. If you drink and drive there is a good chance that you will be caught. If you are caught you will almost certainly lose your licence.

"We are committed to robust and high profile enforcement not just over Christmas and New Year, but all year round."

Central to the campaign is a new 60 second TV commercial: 'Just One', which invites viewers to see the decisions they could be forcing on others as a result of drinking and driving.

This is the ninth cross-boarder road safety campaign commissioned jointly by DOE in Northern Ireland and the National Safety Council in the Republic of Ireland.

(SP)