Local MP lends support to Road Safety Week campaign

David Taylor, MP for North West Leicestershire is joining forces with national road safety charity Brake to highlight it’s ‘Not a drop, not a drag’ campaign, being launched in Road Safety Week (23-29 November 2009).

The charity, which coordinates the annual road safety event, is highlighting two major killers on our roads: drink and drug driving.

David Taylor MP said “One in six road deaths are caused by drivers with more than the legal alcohol limit in their blood and research suggests that similar numbers may involve drivers on illegal drugs.

“That’s why I am supporting Brake’s pleas for drivers not to drink a drop of alcohol, nor take even a drag on a joint or any other illegal drug if they are getting behind the wheel. The charity is also calling on communities to inform the police of known drunk and drugged drivers to help save lives.”

Ellen Booth, campaigns officer for Brake, the road safety charity, said: “We’re pleased to have the backing of David Taylor MP for our ‘Not a Drop, Not a Drag’ campaign. Brake is asking drivers to make a personal commitment: don’t risk even a drop of alcohol or a drag of a joint or any other illegal drug if you’re getting behind the wheel. We’re also challenging everyone to take responsibility for stopping drink and drug driving - and shop drink and drug drivers to police before they kill and maim. Let’s clean up our road safety record and create safe roads that we can be proud of.”

David Taylor MP is also supporting Brake’s calls to action for policymakers as part of the ‘Not a drop, not a drag’ campaign. They include:

 cutting the drink-drive limit to 20mg alcohol per 100ml blood or lower. The UK’s currently drink drive limit of 80mg is the highest in Europe (along with Malta).

 introducing a new law that means drivers registering any level of illegal drugs in their blood stream can be prosecuted, whether or not it can be proved their driving was impaired. At present, unlike the law on drink-driving, police have to prove that someone’s driving was impaired by drugs to bring a driving-related charge.

 stepping up levels of roadside enforcement of drink and drug driving, so that drivers know that if they risk drink or drug driving, they won’t get away with it. Empowering police to carry out random, targeted, and ‘blanket’ breath tests, and ensuring adequate resources for traffic policing are crucial elements to creating this perception.

 bringing enforcement of drink and drug driving into the 21st century, by making use of technology such as alcolocks and roadside drug-testing devices. Neither is currently used by UK police.

 introducing life-long bans for drink or drug drivers who have killed or maimed. For many victims of drink and drug drivers, this is the only meaningful long term justice for offenders who have taken the decision to drive drunk or drugged and have caused such destruction.

 Raising awareness of the horrific consequences of drink and drug driving among the new generation of drivers through compulsory road safety education, delivered in schools, to 11-16 year olds and widespread peak-time television and radio ads aimed at educating the public about the dangers of drink and drug driving.

Notes to editors:

About Brake
Brake is an independent national road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the 8 deaths and 79 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. Brake produces educational road safety literature, runs community training programmes and runs events including Road Safety Week (23-29 November 2009). Brake’s Fleet Safety Forum provides up-to-date fleet safety resources to fleet managers and runs a year-round programme of events. BrakeCare, Brake’s support division, cares for road crash victims through a helpline and other services.

Brake will be releasing the results of a survey of young people, drink and drug driving during Road Safety Week. There are regional launches on 24/25 November in London, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Norwich.

Call Brake’s press office on 01484 559961, email news@brake.org.uk, or visit www.roadsafetyweek.org for more details.

Ends/