THE Government launched its annual Christmas drink-drive campaign today with the message "it takes less than you think for your driving to be impaired".
Anti-drink-drive slogans will be displayed on milk cartons and selected off-licences, bars and pub chains will also carry the message.
Last year, 560 people were killed in drink-drive related crashes while 2,600 were seriously injured and 19,000 slightly injured.
Transport secretary Alistair Darling urged motorists to leave their cars at home during the festive period or "get someone else to drive".
"You can't calculate your own drink-drive limit and the only safe way is not to drink and drive," he said.
The launch comes one week after the introduction of the Government's Road Safety Bill.
This contains measures to allow breath tests taken at the side of the road to be used as evidence in court, make the worst drink-drivers face a re-test and convicted drink drivers to face `alcohol locks' - devices which need a clear breath test before the car will start.
Mr Darling added: "The majority of law-abiding motorists are fed up with the reckless minority of drivers who continue to take unacceptable risks by drinking and driving."
