DRIVING safely on country roads and driving the morning after a heavy night will be the focus of a drink driving campaign by the fire service and police in Devon this Christmas.

The emergency services will be attending markets, lights switch-on ceremonies, town squares and supermarket car parks leading up to Christmas to raise awareness of drink driving and discourage drivers to take unncecessary risks over Christmas.

A driving simulator will be used to explain to motorists the risks of driving while affected by alcohol and other road safety advice will be available.

One of the driving safety events will be held in Waitrose’s car park in Okehampton, on Tuesday, December 6 from 1pm until 8pm. Hatherleigh’s Ruby Country Market will host another on December 3 from 3pm until 9pm.  

Area manager Neil Blackburn, of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said: ‘Some people might think that they are less likely to have a collision on country roads of the type that we have in north Devon.

‘In fact, country roads can be as dangerous as major routes as 59% of all fatalities occur on country roads. That is why we are focusing on smaller roads as part of this campaign.’

The team will also be positioned outside pubs and clubs and will visit major employers to spread the word to as many people as possible.  

Neil added: ‘Alcohol can stay in your system longer than you think and you may in fact still be over the legal limit in the morning.

‘After drinking a strong bottle of wine, it can take up to 13 hours for the alcohol to leave your system. By showing people the evidence we can then provide them with facts and information.’

For the facts about alcohol use, visit www.drinkaware.co.uk

For more road safety information about driving on country roads, go to: think.direct.gov.uk/ country-roads.html