Don’t Bet on Drink Driving
As the Christmas season begins and celebrations increase across Essex, the Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP) is releasing a new festive safety message, “Don’t Bet on Drink Driving”, urging people to look after their friends and family, by stopping drink driving before it starts.
Using a bold gambling theme, it shows that driving after drinking is an irrational gamble with everything to lose. It highlights a key risk for tradespeople and manual workers who rely on their vehicles for work: a drink-driving conviction can mean instant loss of licence, loss of employment, seizure of tools or vehicles, and long-term financial impact.
A supporting part of the SERP’s ambition to deter drink driving over Christmas is Essex Police’s confidential “Report It” function, which allows the public to discreetly flag concerns about friends, family members, or anyone they believe may be considering driving under the influence.
Additionally, bar staff, restaurant teams, or even fellow revellers are being asked to spot when someone is planning to drink drive. The Report It function gives Essex Police live information, and they can intervene where appropriate. Officers cannot be everywhere, but the public can.
“Don’t Bet on Drink Driving” reinforces one message across the Christmas period: if someone is about to make a dangerous choice, step in. If you can’t, report it quietly. You could save a life.