Call goes out for motorists to call out drunk drivers

CRIMESTOPPERS is urging responsible motorists to speak up and report regular drink drivers.

The crime-busting charity says the temptation to drive whilst over the alcohol limit can increase with office parties and get-togethers.

This year their campaign focuses on a mum who was drunk on the school run and a work colleague who regularly drove home drunk from the train station.

Angela Parker, National Manager for Scotland Crimestoppers, said: “Drink drivers put other people’s lives

respectively, on shift during morning rush hour traffic.

In their BMW X5 Jeep, they instantly headed towards the motorway as experience of the job tells them that is where the problems will be.

Their first call to respond to involved a broken down car blocking the traffic on the M8. Pitch black conditions and heavy rain is not the sort of atmosphere any driver wants to be stranded in.

But the duo flared up their siren to come to the drivers rescue. Swiftly, motorists on the jam-packed M8 moved out the path of the emergency vehicle in a domino-effect style as it sped to the help the at risk and your information could help prevent an accident and could even help save lives.

“We appreciate that if you’re close to someone who gets behind the wheel regularly whilst over the limit, it can be difficult to come forward. This can explain why some people are reluctant to go to the police.

“By trusting us with your information you’ll remain 100 per cent anonymous. Always. We never take personal details and calls to our UK Contact Centre on 0800 555 111 and information passed through the

driver. This is the part of the job you don’t see as the officer offered the stranded motorist advice and helped him move the car off the motorway.

PC Murphy explains that what she loves and admits people are so grateful when she comes to help them.

Next stop was a roadblock at Cathcart Road in the Gorbals where despite the wet conditions, dozens of traffic cops carry out vehicle checks and breathalyser tests, where required.

This is the one job where traffic cops have to be able to drive home safety messages - as life or death could depend on it.

Chief Inspector Faulds Anonymous Online Form at www. crimestoppers-uk.org cannot be traced. Together we can help protect those you care about.”

If you have any information about someone who is a regular drink driver, you can contact the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via the non-traceable online form at www. crimestoppers-uk.org. If you see someone attempting to operate a vehicle whilst intoxicated please call 999 as this may require urgent police action.

said: “I don’t need to give a ticket out as long as the driver goes away with an understanding of why they could have been given a ticket and their own safety implications.

“For motorists who abide, we need their help when they see anyone either drinking or potentially taking drink then going to drive.

“If you drive under the influence, like anything in life there are consequences.

“I would not want the consequences such as going to prison. Is it worth it? You could lose your life, lose someone else’s and you need to live with those consequences for the rest of your life.”

‘‘ Is it worth it? You could lose your life or someone else’s