Summer scheme to tackle drug driving

North Yorkshire Police has joined forces with other emergency services to launch a campaign encouraging people to report drink and drug driving.

Beer mats with the messages ‘dob in a drink driver’ and ‘grass on a drug driver’ are being handed out in pubs across the county to remind pub-goers they can save lives with a phone call.

The force’s website will feature a counter with updated numbers of people arrested throughout the year for driving under the influence. The site will also name and shame those convicted.

Drink and drug driving are expected to be a problem during the summer months across the country, but particularly in rural areas.

Officers will be conducting extra patrols during June and will use specialist dogs to search the vehicles of anyone suspected of drug driving.

Superintendent Dave Foster of North Yorkshire Police said: “Dobbing in a drink driver or grassing on a drug driver takes a matter of seconds and can really make a difference in cutting the number of tragic deaths which occur on our roads as a result of people who get behind the wheel while impaired through drink or drugs.

“There really is nowhere to hide. Drink and drug driving is completely unacceptable and if you take the risk this summer, the chances are we will catch you.”

Summer drink and drug driving awareness schemes were also launched in South Yorkshire and Derbyshire as part of a nationwide campaign.

Figures from the Association of Chief Police Officers show 156 people under the age of 25 were killed or seriously injured as a result of drink driving in 2010.

Anyone who wants to report a drunk or drug driver should contact the police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.