Ian McCartney MP

Ian McCartney MP for Makerfield is joining forces with national road safety charity Brake to highlight its ‘Not a drop, not a drag’ campaign, being launched in Road Safety Week (23-29 November 2009).

The charity, which coordinates the annual road safety event, is highlighting two major killers on our roads: drink and drug driving.

One in six road deaths are caused by drivers with more than the legal alcohol limit in their blood and research suggests that similar numbers may involve drivers on illegal drugs.

Ian is supporting Brake’s pleas for drivers not to drink a drop of alcohol, nor take even a drag on a joint or any other illegal drug if they are getting behind the wheel. The charity is also calling on communities to inform the police of known drunk and drugged drivers to help save lives.

Ian McCartney MP said,  “I am pleased to be able to support the ‘Not a Drop, Not a Drag’ campaign. Alongside Brake, I am asking drivers to make a personal commitment: don’t risk even a drop of alcohol or a drag of a joint or any other illegal drug if you’re getting behind the wheel. I am also challenging everyone to take responsibility for stopping drink and drug driving - and shop drink and drug drivers to police before they kill and maim. Let’s clean up our road safety record and create safe roads that we can be proud of.”

Raising awareness of the horrific consequences of drink and drug driving among the new generation of drivers through compulsory road safety education, delivered in schools, to 11-16 year olds and widespread peak-time television and radio ads aimed at educating the public about the dangers of drink and drug driving.

About Brake

Brake is an independent national road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the 8 deaths and 79 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. Brake produces educational road safety literature, runs community training programmes and runs events including Road Safety Week (23-29 November 2009). Brake’s Fleet Safety Forum provides up-to-date fleet safety resources to fleet managers and runs a year-round programme of events. BrakeCare, Brake’s support division, cares for road crash victims through a helpline and other services.

Brake will be releasing the results of a survey of young people, drink and drug driving during Road Safety Week. There are regional launches on 24/25 November in London, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Norwich.