Road safety experts delivered an important message to students today at the launch of Road Safety GB North East's Christmas Drink Drug Driving Campaign.

Emergency services stood alongside road safety teams to put their weight behind the campaign urging people to stay safe on the roads and always have the courage to say no when faced with the choice of getting into a car with someone who may have taken drink or drugs.

Adding their voice to the potentially lifesaving safety message was the family of Lucy Pinder, a hairdressing student at Stockton Riverside College who tragically died at the hands of a drink and drug driver on the way back from a day out at Flamingo Land with friends in June 2016.

"Our lives have changed dramatically," said Lucy's aunt Gemma Malcolm. "Lucy was always laughing and having fun - she lit up the room when she walked in - and not having her anymore is so painful. I don't think we will ever get over losing her."

Gemma said: I just wish that I could turn the clock back and talk to Lucy one more time.

"I would tell her to always wear a seatbelt and to never get in a car with someone who has been drinking or taking drugs.

"I hope people listen and realise that drink and drug driving can kill. Drivers may not kill themselves, but they could kill someone else. Could they live with that?"

In the five years between 2012 and 2016, 38 people were killed on North East roads due to a suspected drink/drug driver, 268 were seriously injured, and a further 1,344 were slightly injured. In 2015 alone, a particularly bad year, 80 people were killed or seriously injured.

Statistics show that men are much more likely to be involved in a drink/drug drive collision, than women, and the most at-risk group are those aged between 17 and 34. Drivers involved in collisions whilst impaired by alcohol are also likely to be much closer to home than those drivers involved in collisions whilst not over the limit.

Paul Watson, Chairman of RSGB NE, said: “Nobody can imagine the pain that is caused when a loved one loses their life in a road accident, particularly when that collision has happened due to a drink or drug driver. It could so easily have been prevented.

“I don’t believe anyone goes out with the intention to cause a fatal collision, but it could easily happen if you are under the influence.

“We want everyone to have a good time this Christmas, but either organise transport home, or make the decision to be the designated driver. It’s so easy to get carried away, so our advice is to stay off alcohol altogether if you plan to drive.”

Chief Inspector Graham Milne, from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit, said: “Many drivers who would not consider driving after a night in the pub fail to recognise the influence of alcohol on their body the next day, or simply choose to ignore its effects. Drivers need to take responsibility and use alternative means of transport after a heavy night drinking.

“Our officers have to pick up the pieces of families torn apart when a loved one is lost as a result of driving whilst impaired, or at the hands of somebody who is – and it is unacceptable to commit this offence, at any time of the year."

Julie Wilson, Student Services Manager at Stockton Riverside College, said: “This is such an important message for all young people. As a new or even as an experienced driver, it is all too easy to think that something like this will never happen to you, but if and when it does it can be devastating, not just for those directly involved, but all those left to live with the consequences.

“As a college, many of our students fall into the highest risk age group which is why we work closely with road safety campaigns and emergency services across the region throughout the year to help raise awareness.”