Drink-drive campaign launched

Authorities joined forces today to transmit a unified message to the public not to drink and drive during this festive season.

"If you plan on drinking don’t even think of driving and if you don’t drink you can drive as much as you want, Director General of Health Ray Busuttil said. He stressed that it was best not to drive even if one drank a shot of alcohol.

Police Assistant Commissioner Josie Brincat said that policemen would be deployed to arterial roads. “Our aim is not to spoil the fun but to make sure that the roads are safe for everyone,” he said. The police would make sure that people were not drinking and driving, were wearing their seatbelts, and were not using their mobile phones while driving.

Civil Protection Department director Peter Cordina added that drinkers – irrespective of whether they planned on driving - should drink moderately to avoid other types of accidents triggered by the feeling of false invincibility brought about by alcohol.

He also stressed that the emergency number 112 was only to be used for emergencies.