SPECIAL constables from Gloucestershire Police are supporting the Road Safety Partnership’s Christmas drink-drive campaign.

They will be leading on a number of operations to stop and breathalyse drivers with the first one which took place last Friday.

The operations will see special constables stopping cars and carrying out breath tests across the county right up to Christmas, including in the Bourton, Stow and Winchcombe areas.

Kevin Roseblade, Inspector for Roads Policing in Gloucestershire, said: “Gloucestershire’s special constables play an integral part in the policing of the county and it’s a huge asset to have them supporting the 2013 campaign to keep our roads safe for the festive period.

“The message is simple – you can’t know your own alcohol limit so don’t take the risk.

“The only way to be sure you are safe to drive is to have none for the road.”

In addition to the roadside checks, officers will also be carrying out high-visibility patrols, both on foot and in vehicles, to prevent and detect alcohol-related antisocial behaviour.

They will also be visiting licensed premises around the county to deliver the “Eat, THINK, Be Merry” message by handing out leaflets to those drinking to get them to think before they get behind the wheel of a car. Figures show that on average, three drivers a day fail a breath test in Gloucestershire.

Last year, two collisions every week involved somebody who took the risk of drinking and driving with 31 of these receiving fatal or serious injuries.