With Christmas just around the corner, the authorities are once again reminding the public of the danger of drink-driving, with a new campaign under the tagline: Life is not a game.

The annual campaign will run on various media and urges drivers to take steps to ensure their own safety and that of their friends, such as nominating a designated driver, using a cab, taxi or bus service, or sleeping at friends or a hotel after a party.

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention director Paula Vassallo said yesterday that even small amounts of alcohol significantly affected driving ability and increased the risk of a crash for motorists and pedestrians.

Alcohol impairs vision and reaction time, but is also associated with impaired judgement, and is therefore often linked to other high-risk road use behaviour, such as speeding or not using seatbelts, further increasing the risk of accidents.

In 2012, it was estimated that 14 and 5.9 per cent, respectively, of male and female road traffic deaths were due to alcohol consumption. In 2016, road traffic accidents led to 1,853 casualties, up from the previous year, of which 22 cases were fatal.

There are also serious legal implications, with drink-drivers liable to a €1,200 fine and thee-year suspension of their driving licence for a first offence, with harsher penalties for repeat offences.

Driving under the influence will also incur between three and 11 penalty points, while dangerous or reckless driving and causing death could result in immediate revocation of the driver’s licence.

The campaign is supported by the police, Transport Malta, Civil Protection, Sedqa, Foundation of Social Welfare Services, Road Safety Council, Touring Club Malta, Mater Dei Hospital and Blood Transfusion Department.

Malta Public Transport, in collaboration with Moving Ads, will also be joining the campaign with adverts on buses to encourage the public to choose wisely and keep safe during the festive season.