DRIVERS heading for the Creamfields music festival near Warrington over the Bank Holiday weekend have been warned not to drink or take drugs.
A team of officers, trained to carry out field impairment tests, will be carrying out spot checks on vehicles travelling to and from the event at Daresbury, to see whether the drivers are unfit to drive because of drink or drug-related impairment.
PC Andy Taylor, of the police impaired driver team, said: “Cheshire Police takes drink and drug-driving extremely seriously. Drivers should be aware that officers will be carrying out checks on roads over the weekend. Cheshire will have a team of officers dedicated to field impairment testing, which can detect if anyone has taken drugs and driven.
“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 and a criminal record. The message is simple – do not drink or take drugs and drive.”
Officers will be based at various points on routes to and from the Creamfields site over the weekend.
PC Taylor said: “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.
“Around 40,000 people are expected to attend the event each day and this means that local roads will be busier than usual.
“While 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.”
Festival goers are being encouraged to make use of public transport or the shuttle bus services that are running to the event from Liverpool, Manchester and Warrington. Further details of these bus services are available on the website www.creamfields.com
Information is also available on the Cheshire Police website at www.cheshire.police.uk
2 Comments
See targeting the motorists again… looks like I’ll have to walk and avoid any risk
“Festival goers are being encouraged to make use of public transport or the shuttle bus services”…….. At £3.50 single into Warrington. or £6 single to Manchester or Liverpool which is NOT double the distance. JOKE!