Police officer hits out after drink-drive cases
And a senior police officer has said it is "absolute madness" to take a chance on getting behind the wheel after drinking alcohol.
In just one day at Exeter Magistrates' Court, the Echo heard nine people answering charges of driving while over the legal drink-drive limit.
In the dock were people of different ages, gender, wealth and background. Seven pleaded guilty while two denied the charge.
Their very presence has made anti drink-drive campaigner Ali Morrish even more determined to spread the message to stop people risking lives by getting behind the wheel when they are over the limit.
Ali's daughter Anna died in 2008 following a car crash. The 21-year-old had accepted a lift back from a party from a friend who had been drinking.
Ali, 45, of Mount Pleasant, and the Echo launched Anna's Campaign last month.
Earlier this week it received backing from Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
The campaign has also featured stories from several families whose lives have been destroyed as a result of drink-driving and from drink-drivers who have spoken about the effect a conviction has had on them. Although the official police drink-drive figures for the Christmas and New Year period are not due until next week, the Echo is today naming and shaming some of those who have yet to heed the campaign's message and have taken to the wheel while over the limit. Mrs Morrish said: "I know some people, over the internet, have said they see no point in campaigns like this and that people will still drink-drive.
"While we will never claim to make 100 per cent of people act on the message, we still think it is worthwhile.
"Although it is very sad some people are still doing it, we have had ample feedback from all kinds of people across the South West to say they have changed their drink-driving habits, attitude and thoughts on it and have passed this on to everyone they know.
"While it is clearly disappointing that not everyone is getting the message, this campaign is not costing us any thing. We do not expect that no one will be caught, but it is still worth doing because there are people that think 'it's not going to happen to me'.
"If someone asked me two years ago if my daughter would be killed on the roads I would have said the same thing. You never do think it is going to happen to you, but it can.
"This is certainly not going to deter me or deter the people it is important for, to carry on. These people in court are just a few people compared to the many that would have listened to the message.
"The vast majority of people have taken Anna's Campaign on board and this makes us more determined than ever to continue to take action.
"The range of people appearing in court also reflects what I said at the start of the campaign.
"Although young people are quite culpable, drink-driving convictions spread across the board.
"I heard recently about an 84-year-old man being caught; drink-driving spreads across age groups, genders and professional classes."
Inspector Richard Pryce, who heads the Devon and Cornwall police's drink-driving campaign, said: "The figures for the campaign are due to be released within the next week.
"It seems there are people that will always try to judge the amount they have had to drink, which is a risk that is never worth taking. There are also those who take the chance when they know they have had too much on the basis they won't get caught or be in a collision, which is absolute madness.
"They are putting theirs and others' lives at risk completely unnecessarily.
"The people that have appeared in court just show we are out there catching people and the courts are dealing with them robustly.
"People make their own decisions. While I would like to say people are not drink-driving, it is quite clear that, for some, the message is not getting through.
"In recent years we have seen slight reductions in the numbers of people being detected and we hope this will be the case again."
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by sharon, crediyon
Friday, January 15 2010, 8:04AM
“well dave i passed my driving test 11 years ago ,and i not had a drink since ,you r a danger behind the wheel i just hope you dont kill or hurt an innocent person or persons in short you are a danger to us responsible drivers so save a life get a taxie”
by Mark, Exeter
Thursday, January 14 2010, 4:15PM
“Interesting comments. The level currently set on drink driving has been established in relation to (that is, well below) the level at which alcohol impares the average person. I am not supporting drink-driving, however it appears the simple truth is that even if we had a zero level it would not prevent those fools who persist it breaking the law now. Reducing the level will only further constrain those of us who, for example, may like a portion of sherry trifle to follow a good meal. Please be wary of supporting more legislation that does not directly address the issue. On the other hand, I do not have any sympathy for those who blatantly flaunt the law and make life miserable for the rest of us. It's all down to good policing and I'm afraid we'll have to pay more in taxes to address that one - definately not a vote winner!”
by Nigel, Exeter
Thursday, January 14 2010, 4:09PM
“I spent nearly forty years in the professional Ambulance Service in Devon, during which time I had to deal with too many seriously, and fatally injured casualties, as a direct result of a driver having consumed alcohol.
Tragically, it was often the innocent parties who were the victims!
It would perhaps bring many people to BELIEVE that driving after consuming alcohol is extremely irresponsible, and very upsetting for all concerned (including the attending Emergency Services Personnel), if they were to see some of the results of the collisions I, and others have .... let alone the lifetime impact on family and friends!
Don't do it!”
by Brian, Pennsylvania, Exeter
Thursday, January 14 2010, 3:44PM
“David Pitts, are you trying not to be alone on this subject. I'm an Exeter bus driver 'A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER' and in the course of my duty I see all manner of stupid things performed by drivers. I had a car written off by a drink driver a few years ago. His excuse.......he was illiterate!!! and he failed to stop, even for the police!!! And yes, I can proudly say that in the 20 yrs I've been driving I have NEVER driven after consuming alcohol. Both myself and my wife have served as special constables and seen the effects of drink driving and they're not anything I want to repeat. Any person wether under the influence of alcohol or not causes an accident, then the fine imposed should also have the cost of the emergency services added. If necessary, their vehicle if intact should be sold to help pay towards the victim(s). Drink drivers have no excuse or respect for the rest of us so I have non for you. To put drink driving down as a mistake in life..sorry but no. A mistake is an unintentional action. Drink drivers commit their crime with the INTENTION of having a drink AND driving afterwards. So if my comments seem a little hard/harsh, then talk to someone who's lost a loved one or been injured as a result of a drink driver. as far as I'm concerned GUILTY AS CHARGED!!!”
by James, St Leonards
Thursday, January 14 2010, 3:34PM
“James, Exeter.Hitting someone or something with your car whilst over the legal drinking drive limit or whilst using a mobile phone is not an accident. It is a crime, which is why it is dealt with in a criminal court. No excuses!”
by James, St Leonards
Thursday, January 14 2010, 3:28PM
“Kenny when will you learn to type without using upper case. It is considered very rude. How many more times do you have to be told we do not all do it! Why do some people think that is an excuse!”
by S, Devon
Thursday, January 14 2010, 3:02PM
“No Kenny, if you read the majority of responses on here you will see we haven't "all done it". You are (thankfully) in a minority.
If you don't know why people are on their high horse then you have obviously never had a friend or family member lost to drink driving.”
by James, Exeter
Thursday, January 14 2010, 3:00PM
“If they jail anyone who has been drinking or using a mobile phone, there will be no people on the street and the prisons will be full, what if that happened to a friend of yours or a family member would you be saying the same thing. i dont think so somehow, Accidents can be prevented in some cases & in some cases they cannot be prevented”
by KENNY, hHEAVITREE
Thursday, January 14 2010, 2:40PM
“DONT KNOW WHY EVERY BODY GETTING ON HIGH HORSE.
MY DRINK WERE SPIKED I LOST LICENCE.
NOT MY FAULT.
WHEN I WAS A LAD WE DRANK AND DROVE NOT ACCEPTABLE BUT IT WERE DIFFRENT TIMES WE DID NOT NO DANFER OF SMOKING THEN.
WHAT DAVE IS SAYING IS TRUE WE ALL HAVE DONE IT.”
by James, St Leonards
Thursday, January 14 2010, 2:36PM
“Couldn't agree more Rob. It's just that is the general rule of thumb which is put forward by the Police and general medical advice. However every person is different. If in doubt don't do it!”