00:00A charity is asking drivers to make safety your gift this festive season.
00:05Crime Stoppers is urging people across the North West to report individuals who routinely
00:10drink or take drugs before driving.
00:12The charity says impaired driving continues to destroy lives and anonymous information
00:17from the public can help prevent further tragedy.
00:21Crime Stoppers have revealed that over the last year it received more than 55,000 reports
00:27from the public about individuals regularly driving under the influence of alcohol or
00:31drugs.
00:32According to the charity, that figure represents an increase of over 22% on the previous year.
00:38On average, around 150 reports are received every single day and these are passed directly
00:44to law enforcement for further investigation.
00:47The charity notes that among drivers who die in crashes, those aged between 20 and 29 are
00:53the most affected and often test positive for cocaine or cannabis.
00:57It says the effects of impaired driving reach far beyond those behind the wheel, impacting
01:02innocent passengers, cyclists, pedestrians and other road users.
01:07Crime Stoppers, which is independent of the police, stresses that people can speak up safely
01:11and without fear of consequences.
01:14The charity says it never asks for or stores personal details and that calls or online reports
01:19cannot be traced.
01:20The first message this year is to make safety a gift by helping to prevent crashes that can
01:24change lives forever.
01:26North West Regional Manager Gary Murray says the charity is pleased that the public is reporting
01:31individuals who show complete disregard for the safety of others, however, he adds that
01:37it remains a concern that so many people are still prepared to put lives at risk by driving
01:42whilst under the influence.
Comments