"Get help or get Caught" - the message from Lancashire Police this Christmas
They have launched a festive campaign tackling drug drivers in December
"Get help or Get Caught" - that's the message from Lancashire Police as they launch their festive campaign tackling drug driving.
It comes as the annual drug and drink driving enforcement campaign gets underway today, 1st December, with roadside drug tests and breathalysers being carried out daily by trained officers across Lancashire.
It is in partnership with the Police and Crime Commissioner and Lancashire's Combatting Drugs Partnerships.
Last year 1,309 people were arrested in Lancashire for drug related driving alone.
In a bid to educate drivers about the dangers of drug driving, a multi media campaign has been launched in Lancashire across billboards, beer mats, posters, radio ads and social media to warn about the effects of drug driving and to signpost people for help through Talk to Frank. Lancashire County Council has committed £3000 towards the campaign, which also urges people to contact Crimestoppers if they suspect anyone is driving impaired.
Throughout December and until the New Year, officers will be out stopping drivers at checkpoints and targeting people where intelligence suggests they may be drug or drink-driving.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire Andrew Snowden said: "Those who recklessly drive under the influence of drugs, whether illicit or prescribed, taken without heading the cautions in the guidelines, put their loved ones and other road users at avoidable risk and need to be aware officers will be out across Lancashire, looking for them. The same applies to alcohol.
"Targeting dangerous drivers is a priority in my Fighting Crime Plan and it's important that we do everything we can to keep Lancashire road users safe, through both education and enforcement activity to prevent and deter drug and drink driving from happening in our county.