IAM calls for “hard hitting warnings” to curb drink-drivers this Christmas
Bottles of alcoholic drinks should carry images showing the consequences of drinking and driving, similar to the shocking approach used on cigarette packets, according to the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).
Although 80% of alcohol labels will have to include health information by 2013, the IAM says that drink drive warnings would go some way to making our roads safer this Christmas.
“Drink driving is an epidemic on our roads,” said Simon Best, Chief Executive for the IAM.
“We want to see clear drink driving warnings that are just as hard hitting as health warnings on cigarette labels.
“If the drinks industry softens the road safety and health messages on its labels then the case for a compulsory system of labelling would be compelling. The message to everyone is don’t drink and drive.”
Figures from the Department for Transport show that from the number of motorists killed in car crashes in 2009, one in five were over the legal alcohol limit. Drink drivers also claimed 380 lives in the same year, a stat which seemed to anger Mr Best.
“Every one of 2009’s drink-driving incidents was preventable,” added the IAM boss.
“That 380 people died in crashes that year, simply because they didn’t heed the warnings and the law, is tragic.”
See also:
No comments yet
