By Rebecca SheppardA HARD-HITTING campaign is being launched todayto remind people to stay sober when driving this summer.The £1.4million Department for Transport initiative is aimed primarily at young men aged between 17 and 29, a group particularly prone to drink-driving.

By Rebecca Sheppard

A HARD-HITTING campaign is being launched todayto remind people to stay sober when driving this summer.

The £1.4million Department for Transport initiative is aimed primarily at young men aged between 17 and 29, a group particularly prone to drink-driving.

It will be accompanied by leaflets and posters to reinforce the message that it takes less drink than people may think for their driving to be impaired by alcohol.

The new campaign will be unveiled by road safety minister, David Jamieson, today and will run nationally for three weeks.

Mr Jamieson said: “Many people need to rethink how much they drink before they drive and this graphic campaign highlights the dangers of drinking even a small amount of alcohol.

“Far too many people are killed and seriously injured in road accidents involving drinking and driving every year. If you need to drive, then don't drink - it's safer.”

In Suffolk, where there has been 170 drink-related road accidents in the past three years, police will launch the campaign at McGinty's pub in Ipswich.

Sergeant Chris Rodda, of Suffolk police's traffic unit, said: “Our aim is to keep Suffolk's roads safe for all users.

“Drink-drivers are a menace to the safety of other road users. When caught, they face the prospect of heavy fines, loss of their licence and even imprisonment. Our advice is simple - if you have a drink, don't drive.”

In the East of England there have been almost 1,500 drink-related road accidents in the past three years.

In 2002, 560 people were killed in drink-drive related accidents across the country, the highest since 1996, and 2,820 were seriously injured.

rebecca.sheppard@eadt.co.uk