Nottinghamshire Police have launched a new campaign focusing on the everyday consequences of drink driving, following 1,435 convictions for drink or drug driving offences across the county over the last year.
The campaign highlights the serious personal and professional repercussions that follow a conviction, even when no physical harm is caused. It uses the experiences of three fictional characters, each struggling with the shame, embarrassment and inconvenience of losing their licence.
Campaign Aims to Highlight Personal Impact
The initiative centres on short, light-hearted social media videos featuring these characters, designed to make people reflect on how a drink-driving conviction could affect their own lives. Their stories are also told through digital and print materials, including beer mats, posters and table talkers in licensed venues across the city and county.
Sergeant Jim Carrington, an experienced roads policing officer who features prominently in the campaign, said: "I've arrested a lot of drink drivers over the years and also heard just about every excuse under the sun."
Officer Recalls Career-Destroying Case
Carrington emphasised that many convicted drivers have not hurt anyone, but the impact on their future is always significant. He recalled one young man arrested after another driver crashed into him; breathalysed as routine, he was found over the limit after having a couple of drinks with friends.
"He had wanted to become a police officer and knew straight away that the mistake he had made was going to cost him a lot more than a fine and a driving ban. It completely destroyed any prospect of him becoming a police officer and will also have hurt his chances in a lot of other roles," Carrington said.
"He hadn't caused the kind of death and destruction I have seen all too often in my career, but he had killed his future career prospects."
Support for the Campaign
Carrington said he supports the campaign because he wants people to think about the consequences a drink-driving conviction could have on their own lives and take appropriate precautions to avoid one.
The campaign comes as Nottinghamshire Police seek to reduce drink and drug driving incidents, using both enforcement and education to change behaviour.
