ROAD safety chiefs are launching their annual Christmas drinkdriving campaign, Don’t Take The Risk.

With nearly 400 people killed or injured across Greater Manchester in 2009 as a direct result of drinkdriving, costing the tax payer £26.6 million, the campaign — by DriveSafe, the Greater Manchester Road Safety Partnership — aims to discourage drink driving and educate people it is impossible to calculate alcohol levels in the bloodstream.

A hard-hitting roadshow will be in Victoria Square tomorrow where road safety officers will be handing out leaflets and warning passers-by of the dangers of drinkdriving.

System One Travelcards will also be giving away free day scratch cards for unlimited bus travel in Greater Manchester for one day.

“Don’t Take The Risk” follows on from the success of last year’s award-winning campaign, The Mourning After, which was designed to prevent party revellers from driving the morning after a night out.

Cllr Akhtar Zaman, Bolton Council’s Executive member for environmental services, said: “Our aim with this campaign is to dispel the myth that individuals can calculate the amount of alcohol in their system. It is impossible to calculate a safe level to drink and then drive, so if you are the designated driver on a night out, you should always avoid drinking any alcohol.”

For more information visit the DriveSafe website drivesafe.org.uk or follow System One on Twitter @OneManchester.