Failed drink drive campaign reveals need for more traffic patrols

Road safety champion GEM Motoring Assist (GEM) is calling for a reduction in the drink drive limit from 80mg to 50mg and an increase in traffic police patrols to enforce the law and catch dangerous drunk drivers.

It says the latest big spending multi-media campaign that was aimed at stopping people drinking and driving over the Christmas and New Year festive period failed in its mission, particularly as far as young drivers are concerned. Figures due to be released by the Home Office in July are expected to show that a growing number of young drivers aged 17-24 are drinking and driving.

David Williams, Chief Executive of GEM, which used to be known as the Guild of Experienced Motorists, said: “More than 300 people were drink-driving on each day in December and that shows that too many motorists are just ignoring the safety messages carried in the seasonal campaign and are putting themselves and others at risk.”

David says that we just do not have enough traffic patrols out on our roads dealing with bad and unsafe driving of all types and not enough people are being subjected to a roadside breath test. “What is the point of spending millions of pounds on glossy and sophisticated advertising campaigns when the traffic police are not around to enforce the message? An increasing number of drivers seem to think that they can get away with ‘one for the road’. A reduction in the limit would make these cavalier drivers think again.”

GEM’s concerns have been confirmed by public votes in its regular poll carried on its web site motoringassist.com. Asked if the level of police presence and traffic law enforcement on our roads was too much, about right or too little, an astounding 71 per cent said they considered it to be too little. About 10 per cent considered it about right while just 19 per cent thought there was too much police activity on roads. “This demonstrates this is a real concern for the general public,” said David.