Victim's plea to motorists - don't drink and drive
Alison Saltmarsh has one huge Christmas wish - that all drivers take the pledge to steer clear of booze this festive season.
She has more reason than most to hope that they are never tempted to get behind the wheel after downing even one alcoholic drink.
For in July Alison, pictured, became the victim of a drink-driver in a collision which has still left her scared to drive.
Today the 43-year-old mother-of-three added her wholehearted support to The News's annual Steer Clear crusade to persuade drivers to stick to soft drinks.
Alison, of Hector Close, Waterlooville, said: 'I know only too well what damage a drink-driver can cause.
'I'm still really wary about driving four months after what happened to me.'
Her Vauxhall Zafira was written off and her wrist broken in the crash at the junction of Portsdown Hill Road and Crookhorn Lane, Portsmouth, at the end of July.
Portsmouth Magistrates' Court was told the driver of the other car, which was stolen, was 35-year-old alcoholic Darren Croxford, of Athena Avenue, Waterlooville, who had neither a licence nor insurance.
He smashed into Alison's car at 80mph.
Croxford was given a four-month jail sentence suspended for two years and banned from driving for five years.
Alison added: 'I could see him coming and there was no way he could make the turn because he was going too fast.
'He lost control and smashed into the car. The airbag went off but at first I didn't feel any pain.
'I got out of the car and I was just in shock. It was awful. I was crying my eyes out.'
Alison, who runs a cleaning company, is still undergoing physiotherapy and has only just been able to return to work.
She said: 'I was lucky. I didn't need to be cut out of the car and my injuries could have been so much worse.
'I think the Steer Clear campaign is an absolutely brilliant idea.'
Steer Clear is running up to and including New Year's Eve. Participating pubs, bars and clubs have promised to serve a free soft drink to the designated driver in a group.
ROLL OF HONOUR
Below are the pubs that have signed up to support our Steer Clear campaign:
abarbistro, White Hart Road, Old Portsmouth
Bird in Hand, Gosport Road, Fareham
Blue Bell Inn, South Street, Emsworth
Brass Monkey, West Street, Fareham
Brewers Arms, Five Heads Road, Horndean
Brewers Arms, Milton Road, Southsea
British Queen, Queens Road, Portsmouth
Carisbrooke Arms, Carisbrooke Road, Gosport, Clarence Tavern, Clarence Rd, Gosport, New Inn, Swanmore
Park Tavern, Park Road, Gosport
Clinkers Tavern, Trinity Road, Fareham
Delme Arms, Cams Hill, Fareham
Five Alls, Forton Road, Gosport
Foresters Arms, Anns Hill Road, Gosport
Golden Eagle, Delamere Road, Southsea
Harvest Home, Denmead
Jolly Taxpayer, Eastbourne Road, Portsmouth
Old Vic, St Paul's Road, Portsmouth
Painters Arms, Lake Road, Portsmouth
Portsbridge, Portsmouth Road, Cosham
Queen's Head, Titchfield
Royal Standard, Edinburgh Road, Portsmouth
Seahorse, Broadsands Drive, Gosport
Ship & Castle, The Hard, Portsmouth
Ship Inn, High Street, Emsworth
Spotted Cow, London Road, Cowplain
Taswell Arms, Taswell Road, Southsea
The Deco, Elm Grove, Southsea
The Limes, Catisfield, Fareham
Victoria Inn, West Marden
Wellington, High Street, Old Portsmouth
If you want to join, call Michael Powell on (023) 9262 2137 or e-mail michael.powell@thenews.co.uk
>> Vote in our latest web poll.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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