The PSNI and Gardai launched their annual Christmas drink-drive campaign today on the Derry-Donegal border.
The message this Christmas, like every Christmas or any time of the year is: Never, Ever Drink or Drug Drive.
The message in the campaign is that drink driving destroys lives, families and communities.
PSNI Road Policing based at Maydown teamed up with Gardai to launch the campaign.
A PSNI spokespersons said: “If you drink and drive this Christmas, Road Policing Officers on both sides of the border will be looking for YOU!”
As the festive season approaches, stark warnings have been issued to road-users about the consequences of drink-driving.
Figures show that 11 per cent of fatal collisions in which a driver had consumed alcohol occurred between the hours of 7.00 am and 11.00 am.
And the statistics also show that 6 per cent of all driving under the influence arrests have also taken place within this 4 hour period.
Gardaí will be increasing the number of checkpoints over the Christmas period, which will be run on a 24/7 basis and Gardaí can breath test any driver that has committed any road traffic offence.
Gardai and the PSNI launched their annual cross border Christmas Drink Driving campaign on the border at Bridgend which is supported by the Donegal Road Safety Working Group as part of their ongoing road safety awareness programme and also reinforces the continued co-operation between both forces with regard to road safety on both sides of the border.
Inspector Michael Harrison said: “The dangers of drinking and driving are well documented and people should be aware that any amount of alcohol in your system can affect your driving.
“Driving safely requires a lot of skill and alcohol will impair your driving ability.
“During this Christmas period, I ask all drivers not to put their and other people’s lives in danger by drinking and driving,” added Inspector Harrison.
