LODDON TOWN COUNCIL

#NoExcuse says emergency services ahead of drink and drug driving campaign 

Emergency services from across the county are joining forces this year to drive home the realities of drink and drug driving.

The month-long initiative launches  Wednesday 1 December and continues until Saturday 1 January, in conjunction with a UK-wide operation led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council. It will see officers carrying out roadside checks throughout the day and night, including early morning checks, as well as intelligence-led enforcement activity.

This year, as part of the launch, the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service staged a ‘mock’ collision outside Sprowston Fire Station last Friday (26 November). The idea, to raise awareness of the consequences anyone could face through drink or drug driving. The event was attended by members from agencies involved in the initial emergency response, including Norfolk Police, Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service and the East of England Ambulance Service. The County Council’s Road Safety Team were also in attendance.

Similar crash scenes will be created at various locations across the county throughout the months of December and January, in order to have a lasting impact on drivers who may pass by during the Christmas and New Year’s period. These include sites at:

• Tuesday Market Place in King’s Lynn

• Kingston Road in Dereham

• Thetford Fire Station

Whilst it is important to reinforce the extreme consequences of drink or drug driving, this year, Norfolk Police will be using social media to show the day-to-day impact of losing your licence to drink or drug driving. The hashtag #NoExcuse will be used alongside a number of hypothetical scenarios outlining the most common effects this has on relationships, finances, career prospects, independence and more. These examples will be based on accounts given by officers who have dealt with drink or drug driving offenders.

Last year, in Norfolk, 46 drivers provided positive alcohol readings, while eight people failed to provide a specimen and four people were prosecuted for being unfit to drive through drink or drugs. Meanwhile, 28 people failed roadside drug tests. As a result, a total of 86 motorists were arrested throughout the campaign.

Inspector Simon Jones from the Joint Roads and Armed Policing Team said: “Drink or drug driving can and often does have fatal consequences and we hope these staged crash scenes will help to reinforce this message to passing drivers.

“We, as the emergency services have to deal with these devastating situations too often, which is the focus behind these awareness campaigns, to reduce the amount of people seriously injured or killed on our roads.

“However, our experiences as officers dealing with drink drivers in particular tells us that it is often just ‘one or two’ extra drinks that can have a lasting impact on your day-to-day life. We often deal with offenders, who are unaware of the fact they are over the limit, and within a matter of weeks, they lose their licence, their income, their independence which inevitably filters through into relationship issues and more.

“This year we are asking you to consider whether it is worth it. For an extra drink?

“Our message is clear, there is #NoExcuse for getting behind the wheel after having taken drugs or excess alcohol.

“We acknowledge that it has been a tough year and many people will want to enjoy the festive season, which of course we would encourage, however if you are driving to a party or the pub for example, please consider whether it is necessary to have a drink at all.

“If you know you are having an alcoholic drink then please organise a lift home or a taxi before you go out.”

Norfolk’s Assistant Chief Fire Officer Tim Edwards said: “Every day we deal with the consequences of poor driving, as do our communities across Norfolk. There really is no excuse for getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol or taking drugs. Taking this action could kill or seriously injure yourself and innocent victims, as well as having lasting effects on all involved, including witnesses and victims’ families and friends. It could also cause you to lose your job, home and more. Use an alternative way to get home after a night out. It’s your choice- make the right one.”

Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner Giles Orpen-Smellie added: "Watching a reconstruction of a road traffic collision should serve as a wake-up call for many. Such a demonstration shows what amazing emergency services we have in Norfolk and I am proud of the role my policing colleagues play in helping those when they need it the most.

"However, the message is simple, there is no excuse. Please don't take the risk of drinking or taking drugs and then driving. If you can't do it for yourself, do it for your family and friends as no-one deserves to get a knock on the door to tell them their loved one has been involved in a serious, or even worse, fatal collision."

As always, we encourage members of the public to provide information about potential offenders to help officers identify who they are, so they can take appropriate action and prevent such collisions occurring.

Specific time slots have once again been reserved at Norwich Magistrates Courts to deal with those caught drink driving. This effectively means that offenders could lose their driving licence within 24 hours of being breathalysed, whilst facing additional fines.

Anyone with information about suspected drink or drug driving should contact Norfolk Police on 101. In case of an emergency, or if you believe a crime is in progress, always dial 999.

Don’t forget to follow @NorfolkPolice and @NSRAPT accounts together with #NoExcuse on social media for updates and key messages throughout the campaign.