Police target drug drivers

POP revellers heading for Creamfields music festival have been warned by Police not to drink or take drugs and drive.
A team of specially trained officers will carry out spot checks on vehicles travelling to and from the event to check if drivers are unfit to drive through drink or drug-related impairment.
PC Andy Taylor, of Cheshire Police’s Impaired Driver Team, said police take drink and drug-driving “extremely seriously” and will be carrying out tests on routes to and from the site all weekend.
He said: “Anyone caught drink or drug-driving will be prosecuted. The penalties for drink driving are the same as for drug-driving – a minimum of 12 months disqualification for anyone caught driving under the influence. The message is simple – do not drink or take drugs and drive.
“Signs will be put up around the site to warn drivers that drug-driving tests are being carried out. Drivers who are stopped will be asked to carry out a variety of exercises designed to test their level of impairment.”
About 30,000 people are expected to attend the event each day which means local roads will be much busier than usual.
PC Taylor said: “Whilst we want people to enjoy themselves at the music festival, we are urging both drivers and passengers to take responsibility for their own road safety by making the right choice – the safer choice.”
The Department for Transport is running a Crackdown on Drug Driving Campaign to coincide with the summer music festival season. The £2.3 million TV advertising campaign is the first to tackle drug driving and aims to raise awareness of police detection methods and penalties.
People from the campaign will hand out leaflets to drivers at Creamfields to reinforce the message and offer help and advice.
Festival goers are urged to use of public transport or the shuttle bus services running to the event from Liverpool, Manchester and Warrington. Details are on the Creamfields website at www.creamfields.com