Bournemouth fire stations dramatic drink and drug driving crashed car campaigns

Two Bournemouth fire stations have dramatic displays outside as part of a Dorset drink and drug driving campaign.

Redhill and Springbourne fire stations in Bournemouth have placed crashed cars outside to look like they have collided with the outer walls.

Banners next to them read “Drink, drugs, drive – don’t do it!”

The stations will keep the displays until around 10th January.

The cars have been marked ‘police aware’ in case anyone tries to contact authorities thinking they’re real accidents.

When asked to comment, Dorset station manager Julian Lockwood said: “Ours fires are going down but our deaths are going up from drugs and drink driving.”

Inspired by Gordon Ramsay

Mr Lockwood also said that the campaign was partly inspired by the 2017 ITV documentary ‘Gordon Ramsay on Cocaine’.

The show depicted two men being arrested for drug driving while on the school run in Boscombe, Bournemouth.

Mr Lockwood thought it best to include drug driving into the campaign instead of just drink driving due to this. 

Past drink driving campaigns have shown that young people continue to drive under the influence.

Almost 50% of people arrested during the 2009 campaign were under 30.

Many people on social media have praised this years campaign for being “eye-catching” and “convincing”.

However other people aren’t quite as pleased with the efforts.

While looking at the Springbourne display, Richard Morgan, 32, said: “If people are in the mindset to drink and drive then they are going to do it.”

If you suspect someone is under the influence of alcohol or drugs while driving, immediately call 999 and report the details to the police.

Main image taken by Tash Holmes

To read local response to this campaign, click here

To read some frequently asked questions about drink driving, click here