Published: November 30, 2007
Christmas safety drive is launched by Burnham-On-Sea taxi firms

A new drink driving safety campaign has been launched in Burnham-On-Sea this week in a bid to make the festive period a safer one for Christmas party-goers.

Revellers are being urged to take a taxi rather than risk accidents or their license by driving home after Christmas events.

"The average taxi fare about town is only £5, so why risk losing your driving license or being involved in an accident for the cost of a couple of drinks?" said taxi driver Chris Gammon.

Custom Cars and Express Taxis, pictured, are among the Burnham firms backing the Christmas safety campaign.

The launch comes as police launch their annual intiative to crackdown on drink drivers. Supt Andy Pullan, in charge of the force's Road Policing Unit, said: "Although we arrest drink drivers of all ages on a daily basis, young men continue to be the main offenders, making up a third of all people involved in drink drive-related collisions."

"Often, they are not massively over the limit, but have just gone that bit too far, meaning for the sake of one night out they are risking ruining their lives with a criminal record and driving ban, and all the personal consequences and lifestyle changes that means, as well as recklessly putting their own and other people's lives at risk."

"Rather than getting hung up on 'safe limits', our advice is that if you're driving, do not drink at all: one drink alone is enough to have an affect on your reactions and perceptions and put your own and other, innocent, people's lives at risk."

"Although drink driving is a year-round problem we tackle day-in, day-out, the temptations of Christmas parties and impromptu drinks after work can mean people who might otherwise be more organised and make arrangements to get home after a night out are tempted to get behind the wheel when they shouldn't. It is these people we are especially keen to get the message across to."

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