Nottingham Police Take to Streets to Slam Drink-Driving This Festive Season
Nottingham city centre saw a hard-hitting police roadshow last night, targeting drink-drivers with a brutal festive warning. Officers handed out ‘beer goggles’ to passersby, simulating how alcohol wrecks your perception behind the wheel.
Visitors also took breathalyser tests and watched a heartbreaking interview with a Nottinghamshire woman whose husband was killed by a drunk van driver. The event was a stark reminder of the deadly cost of drink-driving.
‘It’s Not Safe, It’s a Crime’ – Police Sound The Alarm
Inspector John Lees, speaking from Trinity Square, said: “It’s an issue we highlight throughout the year, but especially over the festive period because people tend to go to Christmas parties and are tempted to drink and drive.”
“We want to send out the message that it is not safe, it is a crime and it affects people’s lives. It causes tragedies and we don’t want that to happen.”
This Friday night event kicked off a series of public awareness drives. More stunts will hit Trinity Square on 10th, 17th, and 23rd December from 6pm-8pm. Emergency service volunteers, Special Constables, and officers will be on hand to engage the public.
Campaign Blitz: Posters, Beermats, and Bus Ads Hit Nottinghamshire
- Over 2,000 posters and 5,000 beermats are flooding Nottinghamshire pubs with hard-hitting drink-drive facts.
- Advertisements splashed across Nottingham City Transport buses reinforce the message.
- Widespread police crackdowns targeting drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs are underway.
Sergeant Shakeel Rasul, architect of the campaign dubbed ‘A Deadly Mix’, explained: “Every year we carry out proactive operations to catch those who put lives at risk by drink-driving. These operations are continuing but we also recognise the value in educating people and that is what this campaign is about.”
Bereaved Wife’s Heartfelt Plea: Plan Your Journey or Pay the Price
Clair Osborne, 48, lost her husband in a 2021 crash caused by a drunk driver. From Mansfield Woodhouse, she urges partygoers to think ahead.
“If you’ve got work dos or Christmas parties planned, that’s the key word – they are planned. Plan your taxi, plan your lift home. If you’re driving and anybody tries to tempt you to have a drink, just ask yourself: is it worth it?”
She added emotionally: “I have to see what it’s done to my children every day because someone decided to drink-drive.”
Nottinghamshire Police are making it clear: there are no excuses. This Christmas, leave the booze off the driver’s seat or face the deadly consequences.
