Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, is warning residents against drink driving, this Christmas.
An estimated 290 people died in drink-drive related accidents in 2012. This was an increase of 25% on the previous year, which was the lowest since records began in 1979.
Over the same period, there were 6,680 drink-drive related accidents, many of which occurred over the festive season.
Gavin is urging for people to stay safe, this Christmas, and to take a taxi or give their keys to a friend if they have consumed alcohol.
He said: “Where driving is concerned, one drink is often one too many. I would urge people to exercise the most extreme caution over the festive period.
“What at the time might seem like a slight risk is nothing of the sort. When you drink and drive, you risk causing a fatal accident. Don’t be the cause of a family losing a loved one this Christmas.”
The West Midlands Police is offering a £200 bounty, this year, to anyone that reports a drink driver, in order to raise awareness of this important issue.
Gavin will also be making representations to the Secretary of State of Transport, Patrick McLoughlin MP, to re-instate the national ‘big budget’ Christmas drink-drive campaigns.