Hampshire Constabulary: Police educate Isle of Wight Festival goers on the dangers of drink and drug driving

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Police educate Isle of Wight Festival goers on the dangers of drink and drug driving

Press Releases

Published: 08/06/2011

People taking vehicles to this year’s Isle of Wight Festival are being reminded of the dangers of drink or drug driving.

Officers from Hampshire Constabulary’s Roads Policing Unit (RPU) will be at the event near Newport again this year to help keep motorists safe and enforce the law.

On offer this year is the chance for motorists heading away from the festival to take a breathalyser test to see if they’re fit to get behind the wheel.

Inspector Martin Goodall from Hampshire Constabulary’s Roads Policing Unit (RPU) said: “The voluntary test is available at the campsite police office for anyone who genuinely wants to drive but is unsure if their alcohol level has returned to zero.

“All you have to do is breathe into the kit and we’ll let you know whether or not if you’re safe to get behind the wheel.

“You won’t be arrested if you’re not safe, but you will be told not to attempt to drive. Our aim is to keep everyone safe from harm on the roads.”

Hampshire Constabulary launched its Summer Drink and Drug Campaign on June 1.

Inspector Goodall continued: “As part of our campaign this year, we’re asking how much is a life worth?

“If you chose to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol you’re more likely to crash and more likely to kill or seriously injure yourself, your friends and other people on the road. It’s totally unacceptable and not worth the risk.

“We’ll have posters up around the festival site to educate drivers about the risk and we’ll also be patrolling the roads to enforce the law.

“We’ll be taking every opportunity to stop drivers we suspect of being under the influence and arresting anyone who fails an impairment test. We know what to look for, so chances are you will be caught.”

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