MOTORISTS are being warned not to get behind the wheel while under the influence of drink or drugs this festive season.

Police forces across the region launched their annual drink-drive campaign yesterday and spelled out the “catastrophic”

consequences for both victims and offenders.

The police and Government’s annual Think campaign has a clear message this year – if you get caught drinkdriving, you’ll be treated like any other criminal.

Chief Inspector Graham Rankin, deputy head of Durham Police’s operational support unit, said: “Drinkdrive and there is a huge risk of ruining innocent people’s lives if someone gets injured or killed, but also of ruining your own life.

“Get caught or cause an accident and there will be a substantial fine, you could lose your licence, your job and, depending on the circumstances, be put in prison.

“We treat this very seriously, so fail a breath test and you will be arrested and treated as the criminal you are.

“We’ll take fingerprints, DNA, you’ll be interviewed, go to court and face the full consequences.”

Last year on North-East roads, there were 11 deaths and nearly 500 injuries where alcohol was a contributory factor.

Andrew Johnson, head of transport at the Government Office for the North-East, said that although the number of deaths caused by drink-drive accidents was falling, it is still important to renew warnings.

He said: “Drink-driving is socially unacceptable and the message is getting through, but each year we have a new generation of drivers to warn.

“During the Christmas and New Year period, the temptation to drink can be greater, even if people don’t go out intending to, so we simply say: ‘Don’t do it’.

“This Christmas, if you are going to drink, leave the car at home.”

Acting Inspector Gary Hatton, head of Cleveland Police’s road policing unit, said all the emergency services were uniting for a crackdown on drink and drug-driving.

He said: “We work all year round to try to get the message across, but some drivers just seem to ignore our pleas.”

More than 200 drivers were arrested during a two-month summer drink and drugdriving campaign in the Cleveland force area.

Insp Hatton said: “Cleveland Police intends to do all it can to arrest those hardcore drink and drug-drivers.

“I would ask every driver to imagine how they would feel if they killed their best mate, girlfriend or a family member.

“Surely that is enough to deter anyone from drink or drug-driving.”

The campaign will run until early next year and will include random vehicle stop checks, enforcement, advertising and soft drink offers from Coca-Cola in 2,500 pubs across Britain.

Northumbria Police is also backing the pre-Christmas crackdown – but is taking the operation a step further by targeting drivers using mobile phones at the wheel.

Officers will breath-test all drivers involved in collisions during this month, but will also be carrying out additional routine breath tests.

For a week starting on Monday, mobile camera vans will be targeting problem areas across the force area, particularly watching out for drivers using mobile phones.