Is it worth the risk?

NEARLY 500 Swindon motorists have been charged with drink driving this year even before the Christ-mas blitz.

The figure of 483 is almost half the 1,050 total for the whole county.

And last month police noticed a dramatic increase in the number of people who gave positive breath tests.

Acting Inspector Ian Stevenson, who dealt with the drink-drive killing of father of five Clive Walsh last year, is angry that motorists are still ignoring pleas not to get behind the wheel after drinking.

Police launched their seasonal anti drink driving campaign at the beginning of the month and the 16-day monitoring period began last night. Several drivers have already been charged in the run up to Christmas and police expect more will follow.

"For each person caught drink driving, there are others who are not," he said.

"It is a worrying fact that so many people still consider drinking and driving to be acceptable behaviour.

"They must realise they are gambling, not just with their own lives, but with the lives of others. Unless people start to take a responsible approach to this issue, I'm afraid it is only going to be a matter of time before we have another drink/drive related death.

"The simple message is that drinking and driving must stop before more people die."

Insp Stevenson got to know the family of Mr Walsh and saw how badly his death affected them.

Even now they had difficulty dealing with it.

"The impact on families cannot even be imagined unless or until you witness it at first hand, " he said. "Even then most of us are only looking in as an outsider."

But what many drink drivers do not realise is the destruction they cause, not only to other people's families, but to their own.

Drink driver Andrew Pounder, who was jailed for four-and-a-half years for killing Mr Walsh, told the inspector his own family had been devastated by what he had done.

He himself had been depressed and had difficulty eating and sleeping and felt that he would never get over the consequences of what he had done.

"A drink drive killer who survives and is subsequently punished through the courts has to live with the death of another person for the rest of their lives," said Insp Stevenson.

"They will go to prison. They may feel remorseful. They may become depressed. Their personality may be completely altered and some may even consider suicide.

"And in most cases the reason for them feeling this way is that they didn't think it could happen to them."

"Very often we are the first on the scene and we can be confronted with all sorts of things. While we are there and dealing with evidence we have the ability to detach ourselves and be professional.

"I think that is a remarkable ability for a police officer to be able to do that in the face of such devastation.

"What is upsetting for me is that no matter how hard we try to get the message across to people that things can go horribly wrong, in a great number of cases they just do not seem to understand it."

"If we can't get through to them then I would appeal to anyone who knows that someone is drinking and driving to call us.

"Please don't think of yourself as a snitch or grass. Think of yourself as a lifesaver, because that is what you could be doing."

Callers can use the 999 system. If the driver is an habitual offender call Swindon police on 528111 or Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.

tclarke@newswilts.co.uk

Don't be a plastered pedestrian

PEOPLE who decide not to be drink drivers are risking their lives as plastered pedestrians, Swindon police have warned.

One person has been killed in the last six months and three have been seriously injured after walking out in front of cars.

Acting Insp Ian Stevenson stressed the victims hadn't broken the law and had been sensible in not attempting to drive.

But he appealed for pedestrians to follow a few simple rules to get themselves home safe from a night out on the town.

"Drunken pedestrians leave themselves open to death or serious injury because their impairment reduces their ability to fully appreciate other road safety issues.

"As with car drivers, higher proportions of alcohol in the system have an adverse effect. It becomes more difficult to judge the speed and distance of vehicles, peripheral vision becomes less distinct and extreme cases people who have drunk a lot will only respond to commands," he said. The basic safety rules are:

Think about walking home in a group rather than alone.

Stay away from the kerb.

Only cross at recognised crossings where possible.

Wear something bright or reflective.

Remember that alcohol affects your judgement.

Consider taking a taxi or getting a bus.

Stay overnight with someone who lives close by. l Get a lift from someone who has not been drinking.

Insp Stevenson also asked people to take care of each other.

"If someone is getting very drunk, please don't abandon them to their own devices."

He asked friends to make sure they were in a fit state to get home under their own steam or help to get them back safely by ordering a taxi, calling someone to collect them or escorting them home.

"We are not trying to prevent people from going out and having a good time," he said.

"We expect them to do this, especially over Christmas.

"What we ask is that people take responsibility for their own safety and that of their friends. A slight error of judgement or a split second of madness can result in tragedy."