Campaign to reduce drink driving launched

Coca-Cola has launched their annual designated driver campaign in Northern Ireland.  The scheme offers free soft drinks to those who are abstaining from alcohol in order to drive friends home after a night out with the aim of reducing motoring offences at Christmas.  Motorists can take advantage of the scheme at more than 250 pubs, clubs, hotels and restaurants. 

Minister for the Environment Alex Atwood urged people to book a taxi or have a designated driver to take them home to avoid endangering themselves or others on the roads.

Miss Northern Ireland, Fiona Guinnane, helped launch the campaign in Belfast along with Head of Road Traffic Policing for the PSNI, Muir Clarke.  Mr Clarke said “Our message to road users is very simple. Do not drink and drive.”

Wilson Nesbitt’s Gary Adair, a solicitor specialising in road traffic offences, commented:

“Drink driving is an extremely serious motoring offence carrying high penalties and endangering lives.  This is a great scheme to remind drivers not to drink and drive and to help out designated drivers.  At Christmas it is easy to forget the legal limits and do something you would not normally do.

Anyone who is arrested after being breathalysed should contact a specialist motoring solicitor straight away.  There are a number of technical procedures which must be followed in order to ensure someone is over the legal limit and there are certain factors which can affect the reading the police get.  Your solicitor will be able to advise you about this.”

If you have been brought to the police station or received a summon in relation to a motoring offence in Northern Ireland Wilson Nesbitt’s expert motoring solicitors can provide advice and representation.  To contact one of our motoring solicitors please call us on freephone 0800 8400549 or via email at criminal@wilson-nesbitt.co.uk.

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