Dorset drivers can earn free soft drinks this Christmas amid police crackdown.

DESIGNATED drivers can earn themselves free soft drinks this Christmas.

Dorset Police has launched its Lift Legend Christmas drink drive campaign, with more than 30 licensed premises set to offer soft drinks to those who give free lifts home to friends and family after a night out.

The initiative runs from 1 December to 1 January 2023. On the purchase of their first soft drink, drivers will be offered a voucher to have their second free of charge at participating venues.
During the month-long operation, officers will also be raising awareness of the inherent dangers involved in drink driving by encouraging people to take responsibility for their actions this Christmas.

Breath tests will also be requested from all drivers who commit a moving road traffic offence, irrespective of whether or not they’re suspected of a drink driving offence.
Officers will also be carrying out intelligence-led fixed site checks, as well as engaging with motorists on the risks of getting behind the wheel after a drink.

Superintendent Chris Naughton of the Specialist Operations Department said: “It is vital we do all we can to ensure anyone on a night out is able to get home safely.
“Our initiative aims to encourage those heading out for the night to plan who is going to be their Lift Legend.
“Officers will not only be tackling those getting behind the wheel after a drink, but also those who decide to drive after taking illegal drugs.
“Despite long-term reductions, drink and drug driving still accounts for 15 per cent of road deaths and almost 10,000 casualties nationally each year.
“Alongside the Lift Legend education campaign, officers will be out in force rigorously targeting those who are a danger on our roads, day or night.”
Supt Naughton also warned people not to accept lifts from people they don’t know.
“It is also important to remember that you shouldn’t seek out lifts from those you don’t know or who aren’t licensed such as through social media networks. Only get into a vehicle with someone you know and trust,” Supt Naughton said.
“Alcohol and drugs impair many of the functions necessary for safe driving; reaction times and spatial awareness are affected significantly. This may still be the case the morning after, depending on how much alcohol is consumed the night before and when you stopped drinking.
“If police think you are unfit to drive through consumption of alcohol, even if your breath test registers lower than the prescribed limit of 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, you can still be arrested and may be charged with an offence. In short, you do not have to be drunk to be a drink driver. Don’t risk it.
“It’s not just you that’s at risk. You could kill or seriously injure another person. Drink driving destroys people’s lives and those of their families. Avoiding this happening is as simple as planning ahead, leaving the car at home, and using a taxi, public transport or designated driver to get home.”
If you have information about anyone who has been drinking or taken drugs and is about to drive, you should call police on 999 with the make and model of the vehicle, registration number and direction of travel.

For more information about the campaign, visit www.dorset.police.uk/LiftLegend.