Drink drivers back on the straight road (From Gazette Series)

Drink drivers back on the straight road

CONVICTED drink drivers who have taken part in the Drink Drive Rehabilitation Course have been helping warn other drivers of the dangers of drink driving.

Gloucestershire County Council and Gloucestershire Constabulary launched this year's anti-drink drive campaign last Friday and were joined by people who have completed the course.

Dani Turner, a 19-year-old from Gloucester, recently completed a rehabilitation course.

She had gone out for a meal and hadn't planned to drink but ended the evening in a nightclub. Following a quarrel with the person she was with she decided to drive home after drinking, and was arrested as she arrived home.

She said: "I am so lucky that because of my behaviour neither myself or anybody else was seriously hurt or worse. I want to be a model and that involves travelling. I've had to put my career on hold, but I feel privileged that I have been on the rehabilitation course and have been able to face the consequences of my actions.

"This Christmas I would urge everybody to leave their cars at home if they're thinking of having a drink."

The drink drive rehabilitation course, which is run by the county council, is offered to convicted drivers when they appear at a Magistrates' Court.

The incentives for attending the course can be up to 25 percent off their driving ban. Research also shows that two thirds of drivers who have taken part are less likely to re-offend.

Virginia Fife, who also attended the launch, said: "I was at the theatre and had booked a hotel for the night, but due to a family crisis I decided I had to get home. I'd been drinking during the interval and I just lost my judgement. The police pulled me over and I was three times over the limit. I was still over the limit the next day, which is frightening because I would have been driving to work then as well.

"I took part in the Drink Drive Rehabilitation course, which was brilliant. There was no finger pointing but it did make us aware of the implications of what we had done. Receiving a ban has affected my life, as I now have to use the bus to travel, but I got off lightly and I realise how luck I am that I didn't kill anybody.

"This Christmas I will be spreading the message to all my family and friends - we can never be sure of our limits, just one drink is not acceptable so don't drink and drive full stop."

The 2005 campaign includes television and radio commercials, motorway message signs and posters in pubs and clubs.

Gazette Fact Box:

* The latest figures show that 560 people were killed during 2003 in drink drive related crashes. * Nearly one in six of all deaths on the road involve drivers who are over the legal limit. * There is no failsafe guide as to how much you can drink and still drive safely. The safest option is not to drink and drive. * If you've been out drinking you might still be affected by alcohol the next day. You may feel OK, but could still be unfit to drive or over the legal alcohol limit. * Alcohol affects your ability to drive safely as your reaction times are impaired and you're unable to judge speed and distances. * If convicted of drink driving you will: lose your licence for a minimum of 12 months or three years for a second offence within ten years, face a maximum fine of up to £5,000, face up to six months in prison and have much higher car insurance costs.