Cambridgeshire police will warn motorists about the dangers of drinking during a month-long campaign which was launched on Monday (June 1).

Motorists are being urged not to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol and police are warning that any amount can affect a person’s ability to drive. Those arrested for drink-driving face a minimum 12-month driving ban and up to £5,000 fine.

In the first three months of this year, 156 people were caught drink-driving in Cambridgeshire. More than a third of the people arrested were under 30.

Officers from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit will be conducting an increased number of checks throughout the month in an effort to stop drink drivers.

Inspector Mark Rogers said: “Drink-driving ruins lives and is completely unacceptable. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs dramatically increases your chances of being involved in a collision that results in someone’s death or injury.”

The campaign key messages include:

- Drink driving ruins lives. Latest figures show in 2013 260 people in the UK were involved in fatal collisions involving someone over the drink drive limit.

- Those who drink drive put not only their own lives at risk but also the lives of others.

- If you know a drink-driver call a confidential reporting line on 0800 032 0845.

- If you are caught drink-driving you will lose your licence. You could also face a fine, lose your job, not be able to pay your mortgage as a result of lost income and even face a prison sentence.