Notts: Council warning over drink driving

Notts County Council is repating its success Over the Limit campaign, but this time the focus is on the dangers of drinking and driving during the warm summer months.

The campaign aims to reduce the number of casualties and collisions where alcohol is a contributory factor and is especially aimed at male driver aged between 17 and 29.

It stresses that time is the only way to get alcohol out of your systme and that if you are driving the only safe level is zero.

The message will be spread using beer mats and posters in 150 pubs and clubs across the county as well as on social and digital media sites.

“Traditionally, drink-drive campaigns have always been held over the Christmas period but actually the danger is there all year round – and especially in the summer months,” said the county council’s principal road safety officer Zena Oliver.

“Family barbecues, celebrating at weekend sporting events or stopping off for a meal after a long day out - all offer the potential for drivers to unknowingly push themselves over the limit when it comes to having a drink.”

The council is urging drivers to look seriously at alternative, non-alcoholic, drinks such as mocktails.

Zena said: “Mocktails are the perfect answer. They’re fun and provide a genuinely tasty alternative to the usual choice of soft drinks which are available for responsible drivers who don’t want to drink alcohol.”

“When we held tasting sessions in supermarkets at Christmas people were genuinely surprised by good they were, with many people dashing off down the aisles to stock up in the ingredients.”

“We’re hoping they’ll be just as big a hit over the summer.”

There are a number of mocktail recipes can be downloaded from www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/drinkdrive.

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