Greater Manchester: Drink and drug driving campaign in Bolton

Bolton was chosen to launch the Safer Roads Greater Manchester's "Your Car Can’t Say No" campaign, warning drivers of the devastating consequences of getting behind the wheel after taking drugs or drinking alcohol.

Officers spoke to passers-by and illustrated, using special technology, how difficult it is to drive under the influence.

Chief Inspector Mike Parker says that while both offences continue to be a challenge, drug driving is especially difficult, due to how it is viewed compared to drink driving.

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He said: “Over the last 40 years drink driving has become socially unacceptable, but drug driving still hasn’t got that stigma yet, and there is still not enough education around drug driving.

“People seem to think it will be similar to drink driving, where in a couple of hours or maybe 24 hours the drugs in your system have dissipated, and you’re safe to drive.

Julie Reide and Chief Inspector Mike Parker (Image: Newsquest)

“It’s actually harder with drug driving, because the drugs in your system have longer lasting effects and could last for several days, impairing your driving, making it unsafe for you to be on the road.

“In Bolton there’s drink and drug drivers locked up constantly, as we are speaking now.”

There were 67 fatalities in Greater Manchester on the roads last year, and nine of those took place in Bolton.

The crime can have long-lasting impacts on those involved, which road danger reduction manager Julie Reide, says could be prevented.

She said: “These are people who are just going to work, going to school, and just going about their daily lives, and then they don’t come home, and it’s one of the police officers that end up knocking at their door, rather than them going home.

Julie Reide (Image: Newsquest)

“And then it just senseless and has devastating consequences for themselves and the community, but it’s all totally senseless, and could be prevented.

“Every five hours in the UK someone is killed on our roads, and every sixteen minutes someone is seriously injured, and it is the only form of transport where it is seen as an acceptable consequence of using our roads.”

Sentences have increased and the maximum sentence someone could get for or drink and drug driving is life imprisonment.

Drivers could also be hit with a driving ban, a fine, points on their license, which could mean they lose their job, house, and their relationship.

Ms Reide said that even if someone has one drink it could be enough for someone to be over the limit for and cause a collision.

Chief Insp Parker added: “Don’t drink and drive.

“Don’t take drugs and drive.

“Think about the consequences; it could be your family; it could be someone else’s family.

“You’re a risk to yourself, you’re a risk to people who are in your car, you’re a risk to the public in general.

“Think about how you would feel if a member of your family was killed by a drink or drug driver, so just don’t do it.”

The road danger unit’s main aim is to completely cut out killed and serious casualties, which includes Greater Manchester’s vision zero strategy launching in the Spring.

The campaign is driven by a series of videos showing three seemingly sober people approaching their car, which begins to have a back-and-forth conversation with their driver and advises them against driving.

As part of their campaign, officers set up a tent at Bolton Interchange, where they shared educational messages around the subject, including misconceptions.

The public were asked to pour out a rough amount of how much alcohol they may have, and officers then showed them how many units this would be.

If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.