Road Accident Solicitors Back Anti-Drink and Drug Driving Campaign
23/11/2009
Leading personal injury solicitors have backed a campaign by road safety charity BRAKE to reduce the number of deaths on UK roads as a result of drink and drug driving.
The ‘Not a Drop, Not a Drag – Stay Sober, Save Lives’ campaign launched today and is hoping to convince drivers across the UK not to get behind the wheel after taking any alcohol or other substance that could affect their driving.
Having seen firsthand the heartache that drink and drug related road accidents, injuries and deaths can have on victims and their families, road traffic accident solicitors at Irwin Mitchell have given their support to the hard-hitting campaign.
“We see too many people, day in, day out, whose lives have been turned upside down as a consequence of people still getting behind the wheel under the influence of either drink or drugs,” said Matthew Brown, from the personal injury team at Irwin Mitchell.
“During 2007 almost 16,000 people in the UK were killed or hurt by drink and drug-drivers. That’s 44 every day.”
He continued: “Despite a combined effort by many bodies to raise awareness of the dangers, it still astounds me and my team just how many victims we represent who are fighting to re-build their lives after being involved in catastrophic but highly avoidable incidents.
The devastating effects of drink driving are currently being seen in 30-year-old Russell Howson from Swinton, who Irwin Mitchell are currently representing, after he was knocked from his scooter in September last year by a driver who later tested over the legal alcohol limit.
Russell, a former long distance runner, was travelling home from work at the Trafford Centre in Manchester when he was struck from behind at high speed.
He was rushed into Hope Hospital where he spent one month under medical supervision on the spinal injury ward. Russell suffered horrific injuries, including a fractured spine, damaged shoulder blades and head injury.
Russell recalls, “All I remember was feeling a tremendous impact when I was thrown off my bike and lying on the floor with a crowd of people around me. I recall vividly the back of my head feeling wet and cold. I later learnt this was due to blood loss.”
Over one year on and Russell is still living with the consequences of the avoidable incident and is working to a strict rehabilitation programme. He has to see a number of consultants on a regular basis, including a physiotherapist three times a week. His home has also had to be adapted to meet his new needs and he can no longer work full-time.
He said: “I have terrible trouble sleeping these days as it’s difficult to get comfortable and I am currently suffering with flashbacks. My Mum and Dad have had to re-locate to Manchester to be closer to me as they were worried about me coping on my own.
“My life has changed so much. I can no longer enjoy any of my hobbies. Before the crash I was a keen deep sea diver and visited places such as Mexico. Doctors have told me that I will never be able to dive again due to the nature of the injury to spine.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me, I am determined to get as strong and well as I can but the injuries I sustained that day will affect me for the rest of my life.”
Russell’s solicitor Matthew concluded: “My client has lost so much due to the irresponsible actions of one person. He is currently undergoing an intensive rehabilitation programme. Lessons need to learn so that other people do not have to go through the trauma that Russell has.”
Cathy Keeler, Deputy Chief Executive of Brake, said; “We need to raise awareness of the different ways in which drugs and alcohol can affect drivers’ behaviour behind the wheel.
She continued: “Although accurate figures aren’t available, research by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), suggests drug driving may be as widespread as drink driving. TRL found that 17 % (almost one in five) of drivers who die in road crashes have traces of illegal drugs in their system that may have affected their driving. We have to work together to stop this and urge the Government to implement effective roadside drug testing.”
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