Inspector Mark Britton of the Roads Policing Unit reveals that the anti drink drive campaign ran from between 1st December 2010 and 4th January 2011. He added “This year the number of stops is down and this is due to the very bad weather conditions that affected the Island for more than a week. This year the focus was diverted from the Drink drive campaign to manage the roads and it is true to say for a few days there was substantially less traffic on the roads. The Roads Policing Unit in partnership with the DOI ROAD SAFETY TEAM and Neighbourhood Policing Teams still stopped nearly five hundred vehicles over the period. I am astounded though that some still insist on taking the risk with their and other people’s lives by drinking and driving. This year the campaign of “Don’t Drink and Drive this Christmas” with the headlines of “I should have crashed at my mate’s house last night.” and “think of the mourning after” were designed to be harder hitting than in previous years and highlighted the realities that drinking and driving can end in tragedy. In any event even an arrest for drink driving can wreck someone’s life. There were 20 arrests this year for drink driving and 10 were charged. It is encouraging to see generally low figures but it still demonstrates the risks people will take. The figures are as follows with last years figures in brackets. Stops 497 (875 in 2009), 20 arrests (16), 10 charged (8), 6 Bailed (4), 4 NFA (3). Inspector Britton concluded: “Preventing, enforcing and detecting Drink Driving remains a priority for the Isle of Man Constabulary throughout the year. Whilst there will be another coordinated campaign in the summer of 2011 people still need to hear the message to stop drink driving. We would like to hear from anyone who wants to tell us about a drink driver or potential drink driver.” Gordon Edwards of the DOI Road Safety Team added “For this year’s joint Department of Infrastructure’s Road Safety Team and Road Policing team campaign the hard hitting poster images displayed in public houses were supplemented by publicity on petrol pump nozzles and messages on some off licence till receipts. Specially commissioned radio adverts were broadcast and the radio stations were keen to give the campaign a mention. The Road Safety Team generated further publicity by running two slogan competitions which will assist the Team with next year’s campaign.” Minister of Infrastructure Phil Gawne said, “I would like to thank the many businesses and organisations who helped the Department with this year’s campaign. Although the figures seem low my Department will continue to deliver targeted Road Safety campaigns as long as a small number of motorists continue to drink and drive on our island’s roads.” ENDS