Emergency services concerned about recent rise in serious collisions in Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire Police has noted that during December they have been called to seven serious crashes in which five people have been seriously injured and two people have died.

Chief Inspector Pat Coates, Specialist Operations, Lincolnshire Police, said: “I can’t imagine how the families and friends of people who have died or been seriously injured in collisions cope or feel. It’s never a good time to be involved in a collision but especially when life is different and difficult enough at the moment. My sympathies go to anyone who is grieving.”

Officers want to send a message to all road users to concentrate on their driving, to slow down and to be considerate.

While it is too early to comment on the cause of the latest collisions as they remain under investigation, they know that every collision is the result of poor driving and poor judgement by someone.

The Fatal4, speeding, driving while impaired through drink or drugs, using a mobile phone and not wearing a seatbelt are factors in many of the collisions dealt with. All of these start with the decision of a driver to take a risk, to drive their car while they are over the limit, to pick up their phone, to accelerate faster than is safe.

Ch Insp Coates added: “I’m asking all of our drivers and riders to protect their loved ones by driving responsibly.

“We enforce all year, but especially target drivers who do so under the influence at this time of year. In the last three days we’ve arrested 14 people for drink or drug driving, seven charged to court, seven investigations are ongoing.

“My message is pay more attention to your driving, don’t make rash decisions about overtaking, reduce your speed and don’t get behind the wheel when your unfit to drive.”

So far this year the county has seen 48 people die in 45 collisions. Last year 56 people died in 50 collisions.

Louth Fire Crew, along with help from East Midlands Ambulance Service and Lincolnshire Police, has produced a video message to highlight the consequences of driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Over the last few festive periods the Louth-based Emergency Services have attended an increasing number of drink or drug related collisions, a number resulting in fatalities and serious injury.

Young adults aged 16-24 are over-represented in drink-drive casualties, yet there are many that walk away unscathed despite being the cause, according to the emergency services

The legal limit of alcohol in a driver’s blood is 35mg per 100mg. From 20/100mg to 35/100mg you are already six times more likely to be involved in a collision, while at just over 35/100mg you are 11 times more likely to be involved say officers.

Their video highlights the difference one mistake can make. The main character may not have been the casualty in this collision, however there are serious consequences resulting in not one, but many lives affected.

The emergency services warn: “It is an absolute gamble to think ‘you should be ok’ when deciding to drive after drinking anything at all.”