Midland traffic officers recently took to social media to emphasize the dangers of drink driving during the festive party season. They shared a photo of a badly mangled car involved in a crash that occurred in Worcestershire before 3:48 am on Saturday, November 25.
The Operational Policing Unit (OPU) for West Mercia Police responded to the crash, leaving the stark impression that it was caused by drink driving. The accompanying message shared only two words on social media, signifying the severity of the situation.
As office Christmas parties kick off, the police are concerned that planned train strikes could lead some individuals to opt for driving instead. The photo of the extensively damaged car at the side of a road in Worcestershire was shared to convey the message “don’t drink drive,” with the added comment “Enough said.”
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The tweet quickly resonated with many, garnering numerous likes and retweets, as it highlighted the gravity of the issue. RoSPA, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, revealed that over the past three years, 23 individuals lost their lives and 154 sustained serious injuries in accidents involving alcohol across Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire.
RoSPA strongly advises against consuming even one alcoholic drink before driving on a night out. The organization has joined forces with West Mercia Police and Wenlock Spring for the ‘Only One for the Road’ campaign, stressing the need for motorists to pause and weigh the risks before getting behind the wheel.
In the run-up to Christmas last year, 156 motorists were arrested for exceeding the drink-drive limit, further underscoring the prevalence of the issue. Rebecca Guy, road safety manager for RoSPA, emphasized the unpredictable nature of alcohol absorption, stating that it takes approximately an hour for a healthy liver to eliminate one unit of alcohol.
She urged individuals to exercise caution, emphasizing that the safest choice is to refrain from consuming alcohol before driving and not attempt to gauge alcohol levels in the body.