Police in Manchester reinforcing their anti drink drive campaign Credit: PA
Drunken partygoers will be given the opportunity to test their driving abilities as part of this year’s drink and drug drive campaign in Manchester. Emergency services will be hosting events in Wigan and Manchester City Centre and offering people who have had a few drinks the opportunity to have a go in a driving simulator and see for themselves the affect that alcohol can have on driving. The Christmas drink and drug drive operation, which started on 1 December 2015, will continue throughout the month and will see officers testing motorists around the clock and reinforcing their ‘none for the road’ message. Alcohol has been a contributing factor in 73 collisions so far this year. Two of these collisions were fatal and 16 led to serious injury. Police have also dealt with 216 drug drivers so far this year. Earlier this year legislation was brought in making it easier for officers to process drug drivers using a roadside drug testing kit, which can check for cannabis or cocaine using a saliva sample.
Members of the public are invited along to the following drink and drug drive events. They’ll be an opportunity to find out more about drug and drink drive testing, have a go in the driving simulator and speak to emergency service staff.
· Saturday 5th December: Wigan Town Centre (outside the Post Office on Wallgate), 5pm – 1am
· Sunday 6th December: St Ann’s Square, Manchester City Centre, 12 noon – 9pm
