MOTORISTS are being warned to monitor how much they are boozing at barbecues and beer gardens ahead of a summer anti-drink and drug driving campaign.

Essex Police's summer initiative kicked off on Thursday and will run until Sunday, July 15 to coincide with the World Cup.

Head of roads policing Adam Pipe said: "Drink and drug driving continues to be an issue in Essex and it ruins lives.

“We often see an increase during the summer months as people enjoy the good weather at barbecues or in beer gardens.

“I believe communities around Essex feel as strongly about drink and drug driving as we do and they won’t tolerate it.

“If you have any information about someone who is drink or drug driving I need you to tell us so we can get them off our roads.

“You can call the police on 101, use the Safer Essex Roads Partnership’s Extra Eyes website or contact Crimestoppers.”

The force has produced videos showing people playing sports in a barbecue environment compared with the amount of time you have to react to an incident on the road while behind the wheel.

Officers will be carrying out proactive stop checks around the county throughout the campaign which last year saw 107 people arrested between June 1 and June 30.

Chairman of SERP Nicola Foster said: "Drinking can affect your decision making and increase your reaction time.

"Drivers who have been drinking may drive faster, may miss traffic lights or hazards and may even lose control of their vehicle.

“If you meet such a driver, the likelihood of you being killed or seriously injured is a third higher than if they had not had a drink.

“Help us to keep everyone on the roads safe by being aware of how much you, or your driver, is drinking, by making travel plans before you start drinking and by sticking to them.

“The nature of barbecues can mean it’s often difficult to know how much you’ve been drinking.

"Drinks might be refilled without you even noticing.

"It is far safer to drive knowing you’ve had no alcohol whatsoever.

“Police officers will be carrying out additional road checks during the summer months but you have a part to play too.

"If you suspect someone of drink or drug driving, you can report them via our Extra Eyes initiative which seeks to detect and deter poor and dangerous driving.”