The officer leading the Sussex Police annual Christmas drink driving campaign has urged people in Brighton and Hove to call a cab or take the bus or train.
Chief Inspector Di Roskilly, of the Sussex Police Road Policing Unit, said: “Too many people get behind the wheel after having a drink or taking drugs and the consequences can be dire.
“We encourage people to enjoy the festive period but ask that you make sure you have a designated driver in your group who stays sober or you get a taxi or public transport home.
“It is proven that collisions are more likely to happen when the driver is impaired.
“Not only is there the risk of killing yourself or someone else, you could also end up banned from driving or in prison.
“Drink or drug driving isn’t worth it.”
Sussex Police started its annual campaign to crack down on drink driving over the Christmas period on Monday 14 November.
Since then more 6,500 people have been breath-tested across the county and more than 150 have been arrested.
Earlier this week traffic police ran a joint operation with East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service in Peacehaven, trying to educate errant drivers.
Drivers were targeted for speeding, using their mobile phone while driving, not wearing a seatbelt and other offences.
Over 90 minutes, ten drivers were stopped for speeding and 22 for seatbelt offences.
Each offender was given the option of a fixed penalty notice or being shown some educational material by the fire service.
The material showed some of the repercussions that can arise from the offence that they had committed.
Fire officers shared their own experiences to highlight the dangers that these road users were presenting to themselves and others by their actions.
All 32 drivers who were stopped were asked to take a breath test. All passed.
Phil Henty, operations manager for the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership, said: “Drinking and driving is a serious problem on our roads across the year – but most poignant at Christmas when the loss of life can seem even more tragic.
“Aside from the emotional cost to family and friends, each fatality on our roads costs society nearly £1.6 million and each seriously injured person carries a cost of some £178,000.
“This means that every life saved by detecting drink drivers before they have a collision has a direct financial benefit to society as a whole.
“But more important is the ‘hidden’ benefit to the lives of people across our county and country.”
