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19 Jun 2012
Cheshire police officers want parents to help stop young
people drinking and driving.
They say too many young drivers are getting behind the wheel
after drinking or taking drugs and parents should play their part
in halting the trend.
Assistant Chief Constable Ruth Purdie said:
Last year we made more than 1800 arrests for
drinking and driving. Forty per cent of the people involved were
aged under 30.
That means a substantial number of young drivers have the wrong
approach to an issue which is vital to keeping our roads safe. It
is a matter of real concern, especially when you consider they may
be on the roads for another fifty years and they already have the
wrong attitude to safety. We would really like to see this trend
reversed.
Parents should play their part. They can explain to youngsters
who have just begun driving, or who are coming up to the age when
they will be able to drive, that drinking and driving don′t
mix.
They can spell out the simple fact that if you drink and drive
you are massively increasing your chances of having a
collision. You, or someone else, may end up dead or with
injuries which will impair the rest of your life.
They can explain that even if you avoid physical
injury you are likely to face other
consequences. A drink driving conviction can result in a
prison sentence. You will certainly be banned from the road for
some time. That will affect your life style and, in some cases, may
mean losing your job. You will have to pay a fine and costs and you
will have problems getting insurance cover when you come to drive
again.
Another element of the parents′ role is setting an
example. If young people see their parents have a casual
attitude to drinking and driving, they are likely to adopt a
similar approach. If the parents treat the issue seriously, their
offspring are likely to do the same.
Safe driving is all about attitudes. Some of these can be shaped
within the family.
-
ACC
Ruth
Purdie, Cheshire Constabulary
Cheshire Police is currently running a ‘Good, Bad and Ugly′
campaign on the effects of drinking too much.
The Good is the ArcAngel approach by Cheshire
Police and our partners which involves enforcement and
education and is reducing drink-related incidents across
the Cheshire Police area.
The Bad is the message that drinking too much
impairs your judgement, makes you inclined to take risks, and
leaves you vulnerable to crime and anti-social
behaviour.
The Ugly is the fact that drunken behaviour
could result in a criminal record which may affect
your job, your home and your entire life.
