Dec 05 - RGP Call On Community Support In Christmas Anti-Drink Driving Campaign
The Royal Gibraltar Police have called on the community to support their anti-drink driving campaign this Christmas. Chief Inspector John Caruana said that workmates, friends and family members have a responsibility to ensure that people they know do not get behind the wheel after drinking during the festive season.
CI Caruana said that, although the number of drink driving cases has reduced slightly in recent years, the RGP is spearheading an “impactful campaign” to warn the public about the dangers of driving after consuming alcohol. He said that a total of 59 people had been arrested for the offence of driving under the influence since April this year.
The RGP’s campaign takes the form of numerous posters displayed on traffic signs across Gibraltar and a short video showing the shocking consequences of a motorbike accident after a night out. The slogan of the campaign is the regret expressed by friends of the drink driver after a tragic accident: “I should’ve stopped my friend from drink driving…but I didn’t.”
Officers on the ground will also be targeting specific areas, in particular nightlife hot spots frequented by drinkers.
CI Caruana also highlighted the often neglected but equally dangerous phenomenon of “morning after” drink driving – that is, when someone is still over the legal limit the morning after a drinking session, a practice that becomes more widespread during the Christmas office party season.
“The bottom line,” he said, “is that distances in Gib are short so there’s no excuse for drink driving.”
