WARNINGS of the potentially lethal consequences of driving while under the influence of drugs will form a major part of this year’s festive road safety campaign across the county.

St Helen’s Square in York was chosen to launch York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership’s Christmas drink and drug drive campaign yesterday.

This year the focus will be on younger drivers who continue to ignore warnings from police and other emergency services on the problem.

Dave McCabe, of North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service, was one of those in the city centre yesterday to highlight the problem with the help of a huge screen showing information films aimed at young people.

“Road-related deaths are going down year-on-year,” he said. “But the drink and drive proportion is not decreasing at the same rate.”

He said: “It’s interesting because traditionally we associate drink-drivers with the older age group who may have been inclined to do it in the past, but we are seeing a general increase in the younger end, from 18 to 25, so we have decided to go with a campaign that would attract their attention.”

As well as the fire service, the launch of the latest 95 Alive campaign included members of North Yorkshire Police and council road safety officers.

People passing through St Helen’s Square were able to see hard-hitting road safety films and even take a police field impairment test, a series of exercises, including touching your own nose and walking in a straight line, designed to indicate whether someone may have taken illegal drugs.

The test will be used over Christmas by North Yorkshire Police, who, for the first time this year, will be carrying out road side drug teats as well as breath tests.

Mr McCabe was one of those who took the test. He said: “I think that would have been extremely difficult if I had had a few. I would have had difficulty if I was under the influence.”