Driving home the message: “You drink, I’ll drive”

Licensed black cabs in five areas of Hampshire will be carrying the message `You drink, I'll drive' as part of Hampshire County Council's road safety anti-drink drive campaign being launched on 26 November.

The County Council’s Road Safety Service Manager, Ernie Sage, and Elaine Emmett, will be at Hampshire County Council’s headquarters in Winchester to see the slogans going in to the first iconic black taxis. Elaine was injured in a crash caused by her friend who was over the drink-drive limit.

A total of 30 taxis in Aldershot, Basingstoke, Farnborough, Winchester and Gosport will drive home the message from now until January, when the temptations to celebrate the festive season and new year with a drink are plentiful.

Whilst publicity and other measures taken over the years have brought about a steady change in attitudes, there has been little change in casualty figures since 1993 and drink-related accidents still account for around 1 in 7 fatalities. In Hampshire last year, 163 were arrested for drink driving. Of these, 106 had been involved in crashes.

Drivers involved in any car accident can be stopped and breathalysed. If convicted the penalty is an automatic driving ban of at least a year, with a hefty fine and a chance of imprisonment on top. To get a licence back at the end of the disqualification, drivers may have to pass an extended driving test.