PARTYGOERS in the Leighton-Linslade area are being warned not to face the hangover of losing their driving licence as the police launch their annual get-tough Christmas campaign.

This year's month-long police drink and drug driving initiative, called Operation Jackdaw, has started with a reminder to motorists that you can still be over the limit the day after the night before. 

The clampdown is led by Chief Inspector Jane Aspin from the Beds roads policing unit. She said: "We would remind people that if you drink and drive it will only be a matter of time before you are caught.

"Many people think they have to be involved in a collision or commit an offence to be stopped and breathalysed. This is not the case and our aim is to test more drivers than ever before during this campaign." 

Police will be joining forces around the country in stopping drivers at all times of the day and night. They will also be using ANPR and Bluetooth technology to send text messages to enabled mobile phones with anti-drink drive messages.

"What some people don't realise is that alcohol stays in the system for many hours after they stop drinking and they could still be over the limit the next morning when they get in their car to drive to work or drop the children off at school.

"People need to be aware of this.

"Collisions involving alcohol not only devastate the lives of victims and their families, they also ruin the lives of offenders who could face a lengthy driving ban or imprisonment.

"As well as having to live with the lifelong guilt of having killed or injured someone through their reckless behaviour, they could also lose their job, home and their livelihood."