POLICE are urging drivers to take extra care on the county’s roads as they head out to celebrate ltonight - to stop the New Year from starting with another death or serious injury.

Eleven people lost their lives on the roads of Suffolk and Norfolk in December, and investigations to establish the causes of the collisions continue.

Head of roads policing for the two counties, Chief Inspector Chris Spinks, said: “December should be a time of joy and celebration, but it has turned into a time of sadness for the families and friends of those

who have died and I would like to offer my sympathies to them.

“We do not want to end 2012 with another road death or serious injury, nor start the new year with one, so I would urge everyone who is using the roads over the coming few days to take extra care and stay alert and focused whilst driving.”

A joint drink-drive campaign between the counties continues tomorrow, with officers stopping any driver who causes them concern. Since the beginning of December, 199 drivers have been arrested on suspicion of drink driving or related offences across both counties, and several of those charged have been teenagers.

Although the weather is set to improve into the New Year, Ch Insp Spinks urged drivers not to become complacent, adding: “We often find that people drive carefully when the conditions are more challenging, but then don’t pay as much attention during the journeys they make more frequently. Whilst the route may remain the same, the time of day, weather, traffic and other factors will change and so just one of these could present a hazard that catches you off guard and results in a collision.”