HUNDREDS of posters and beer mats are being handed to pubs and clubs across Lancashire as part of a countywide crackdown on drink driving.

The posters, which have been funded by the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety, feature the message ‘You don’t have to be drunk to be a drink driver’.

The action comes as part of Lancashire Constabulary’s annual Christmas drink and drug driving campaign, which was officially launched on Wednesday 1 December.

Insp Martin Bishop said: “Drinking and driving wrecks lives. It takes less than you might think to become a drink driver. Any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive and there is no foolproof way of drinking and staying under the limit. The only safe option is not to drive if you plan to drink.

“Statistics show that one in six fatal collisions in Lancashire involve either drink or drugs – or both. This is simply not acceptable.

“We want people to have fun this Christmas but to remember the consequences of driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”

Between 1 January and 1 October this year, there were 35 fatal collisions in Lancashire - six of these involved drink or drugs.

Insp Bishop added: “Our message is simple – do not drink and drive and do not take drugs and drive.”

Steve Whitehouse from the Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety, said: "A great deal of hard work takes place every year to reduce the number of people killed or injured on our roads, whether that's by educating or training drivers, riders and pedestrians or carrying out safety engineering works, but that effort counts for nothing if individuals make the decision to drink and drive.

“Drink driving can result in serious or even fatal collisions and you won't just ruin Christmas for yourself and your family, your actions could have major consequences for other, possibly innocent, people. "When you also consider the consequences of drink driving it makes the decision easy, drink driving is a risk that's simply not worth taking."

If you would like to report someone who you suspect of driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs, contact the police on 0845 1 25 35 45.