Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership is helping designated drivers stay sober on nights out with a new trial launching this August 2023.
The partnership, which is comprised of Gloucestershire County Council, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Gloucestershire Constabulary, Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service and the Highways Agency, is offering badges for designated drivers to wear when they go out, to help them resist the temptation to have an alcoholic drink — and to indicate to others not to offer them alcohol.
Research shows that drivers who have been drinking have a significantly higher risk of being involved in a collision than drivers who are sober, with the number of casualties caused by drink driving incidents on the rise in Gloucestershire.
Around nine per cent of casualties from road traffic accidents in 2022 were due to drink-related collisions.
Chair of Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership, councillor Dave Norman, said: 'Often drivers have good intentions, but they can be tempted when offered drinks by friends. This can be hard to resist, but it’s very easy to go over the limit.
'If you’re the designated driver it’s much better not to drink at all. Don’t take the chance and use one of our badges to help make it clear to others that you’re the driver.'
Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire, Nick Evans said: 'We have too many collisions on the county's roads and the Road Safety Partnership is working hard to reduce deaths and serious incidents in Gloucestershire.
'There are lots of steps people can take to make them safer on our roads but avoiding alcohol and any other substances is one of the biggest ways they can stay safe. Not only reducing the likelihood of collisions, but also staying the right side of the law.'
Superintendent Paul Keasey, director of specialist operations at Gloucestershire Constabulary, added: 'We welcome any initiative that helps prevent people from drinking and driving and encourages motorists to act responsibly.
'So many people have their lives affected by drink driving, be it because they are injured or lose loved ones through a collision, or are arrested and convicted. Having a designated driver who does not drink any alcohol before getting behind the wheel means that everybody gets home safely after a night out and helps to keep the roads of Gloucestershire safe.'
Badges can be collected from Gloucestershire Constabulary's neighbourhood engagement vehicles and its crime prevention team, as well as Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service's road safety work in the community.
