CAN there be anything more pleasant than a hot summer evening spent in a pub beer garden?

Well it depends how much you decide to drink, especially if you are driving home. One for the road doesn’t just risk losing your licence; it could threaten your job, home and, heaven forbid, the life of an innocent stranger.

That is the message from North Yorkshire Police, whose annual summer safety campaign launches today. But the initiative is not only about targeting motorists, it also offers sound advice to all of us on how to stay safe, especially near water.

The recommendations may seem straightforward, but after a couple of drinks none of us think straight. The police say planning your nights out before hand is the key. We fully agree.