DRUG DRIVERS TARGETED IN NEW POLICE CAMPAIGN

DRUG drivers are being targeted in a new campaign launched by
police.

Greater Manchester Police are arresting and charging up to 25
motorists a month for driving under the influence of illegal substances.

And research - via website Facebook and a local radio station -
reveals that more than one-in-four, of young drivers in the Greater
Manchester area, including Bolton, are getting behind the wheel after
taking drugs, with two out of five passengers admit to getting into
cars driven by motorists who have taken substances.

Officers are being trained to spot drug drivers and a high-profile
publicity campaign has been launched.

It carries the message "Drug driving... you'd be off your
head."

Chief Inspector Haydn Roberts from Greater Manchester Police's Traffic
Network Section, said: "Like alcohol, drugs can seriously undermine
your ability to drive safely.

"Greater Manchester Police is taking this illegal driving behaviour
extremely seriously and we have made a major investment in training
officers to undertake roadside drug impairment testing.

"More than 180 trained officers will be deployed during this campaign
to specifically target drug drivers, so their chances of being caught
are significantly increased."

Around 400,000 beermats and 6,500 posters are being distributed in the
borough and other towns to reinforces the campaign's message. It will
also be put out on radio stations popular with young people and a new
website has been launched at www.offyourhead.info (CORR).

Josie Wride, a spokesman for the Greater Manchester Casualty Reduction
Partnership said: "We all know that drink and driving don't mix - we
now need to get across the same message about drugs.

"Drug-driving is as unacceptable as drink-driving and our message to
anybody taking drugs and getting behind the wheel is that not only is
it dangerous to themselves, their passengers and other road users, but
it also carries the risk of serious penalties, including prison. It's
not worth the risk."

According to the Department for Transport, drugs can affect drivers by
causing slower reaction times, poor concentration, sleepiness,
confusion, distorted perception, over-confidence, impaired
co-ordination, hallucinations, blurred vision, aggression and dizziness.