18 May 2006 THE damage caused by drunk and dangerous driving is being displayed in Harrogate's pedestrianised town centre this Saturday. 

 

As part of the Harrogate District Safer Communities Partnership's Night Safe campaign, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service will be showing how difficult their job is when they have to pull the dead or dying from a badly crushed vehicle.  The car they will be using for this illustration has previously been involved in a road traffic accident.

 

Backing this hard hitting campaign, Councillor Mike Gardner Leader of Harrogate Borough Council and Chair of the Safer Communities Partnership, said  "Harrogate has suffered probably more than its fair share of tragic deaths, particularly of young people, who have either caused an accident or been involved in one because they took the wrong choice in getting a lift home.  This message is a stark and serious one.  You do have a choice to live.  If you are drunk don't drive and if you think the friend you are getting a lift with isn't capable of getting you home safely, call your parents or a taxi."

 

But as Ben Cairns, Watch Manager (Harrogate) North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said:  "As the Chairman has said, this isn't just aimed at young people.  It can happen at any age.  We want to bring this message right to the streets.  We know people read about accidents all the time in the media but how many actually see it first hand.  This campaign is all about making sure people get home safely after having a good night out.  So we would urge everyone to consider the full facts of how much damage can be caused by drunken or dangerous driving.  We want to make sure people plan their route home as meticulously as they plan for their night out."  ENDS

 

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: 20 May 2006 7.30 pm till 10.00 pm in the crescent opposite War Memorial, Harrogate.