Nottinghamshire Police to bring educational drink and drug driving roadshow to Newark

An eye-opening interactive campaign educating people of the risks and life-shattering impact of drink and drug driving is heading to Newark next month.

Nottinghamshire Police’s awareness-raising roadshow will see members of the public invited to take part in some sobriety tests — including being challenged to try on a pair of beer googles and walk in a straight line to simulate how alcohol or drugs can impair reactions.

Officers will also be using non-evidential breath tests at the events, so people can gain first-hand experience of being tested and get an indication of how much alcohol they have in their system.

The roadshows have previously been held in Nottingham and Mansfield, but the A Deadly Mix campaign’s reach has now been widened to more areas, including Newark, based on data highlighting hotspot locations of fatal and serious injury collisions which drink or drugs contributed to.

Sergeant James Carrington, of Nottinghamshire Police’s road policing unit, said: “We positively engaged with more than 500 people who attended our interactive ‘A Deadly Mix’ roadshows held last December in Nottingham city centre and Mansfield.

“We received some really positive feedback about our events last year, showing people how seriously we take this issue and really opening their eyes to the dangers and consequences of drink and drug driving through our engagement and educational activities.

“Now, based on analytical data highlighting hotspot locations of fatal and serious injury collisions, where drink or drugs was a contributory factor, we’re expanding the roadshows to cover the city south, in West Bridgford, and in the northern and rural areas of Newark, Worksop, and Retford.

“As well as holding engagement activities in all six of our roadshow locations, our road policing officers will be actively patrolling in collision hotspot areas and carrying out roadside tests with every person they engage with. Every driver involved in a road traffic collision will also be breath tested.

“In support of our campaign to cut the number of people killed or seriously injured due to drink or drug driving in Nottingham, we are also working closely with partners, including pubs and licensing teams in the city and county, to help spread our message and educate road users.

“Our message to those who choose to drive whilst impaired through drink or drugs is this: you are not only risking your own life and future, but also the lives of innocent people. Is it really worth it?”

Following their success last year, a limited number of educational sobriety activity packs will also be handed out to those taking part.

They include pairs of beer goggles to show how alcohol can impair your ability to drive, a true and false game, and informative materials for people to read and spread awareness with their family and friends.

Shocking facts and figures will also be shared with members of the public, aiming to change people’s attitudes towards drink and drug driving and encouraging them to have ‘none for the road’.

The Newark roadshow will take place on Saturday, December 21.

Others will take place at Trinity Square, Nottingham city centre, from 5pm to 7pm today (November 29), in Mansfield on December 7, in Worksop on December 13, West Bridgford on December 27, and Retford on January 4.

The A Deadly Mix campaign is supported by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner of Nottinghamshire and the Nottinghamshire Safety Camera Partnership, and is run in conjunction with the national Operation Limit drink and drug drive campaign which runs until January 1.

Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden has made a commitment to prioritising road safety by targeting speeding and reckless driving, implementing zero-tolerance policies on drink and drug driving, and working tirelessly to reduce car fatalities.

He said: “Drink and drug-driving can have devastating impacts on people’s lives, so I want to be clear that there is no place for it on Nottinghamshire’s roads.

“Through a mix of targeted road safety operations, Nottinghamshire Police’s officers work all-year round with partners and the community to keep our roads safe.

“These roadshows are a great way to engage with the public, prevent crime by opening people’s eyes to the dangers, and also to provide reassurance to the public that police are taking this issue really seriously and doing all they can to tackle it.”

Nottinghamshire Police’s roads policing unit, response teams, and neighbourhood teams, will continue to patrol the county’s roads in the run-up to Christmas and throughout the festive period to keep people safe and catch any drink and drug drivers who selfishly choose to put their own lives and other people’s lives at risk.

Anyone with information about suspected drink or drug driving should contact Nottinghamshire Police, by calling 101. In case of an emergency, or if you believe a crime is in progress, always dial 999.

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form.