DRINK DRIVER SENDS HIMSELF ONTO COURSE
A drink driver who couldn’t live with his guilt told police and referred himself onto a rehabilitation course for drink drive offenders.
George Labona (42), from Mansfield, has now called for everyone to get educated as he had been “oblivious” about alcohol before the course and especially how it can still be in the body the next day.
He confessed he had felt “so guilty” after driving home on a freezing night when his lift failed to arrive. The next day he went to his local police station to ask for help from a surprised Sergeant who pointed him in the direction of alcohol educators the TTC Group.
His actions were praised by the TTC Group which puts more than 10,000 drink drivers, convicted by the courts, through their three day courses each year.
“I couldn’t believe it when he told me he had not been caught drink driving but had self referred himself onto the course,” said Nottinghamshire TTC trainer John Kavanagh, a former detective Superintendent in neighbouring Leicestershire.
“But it is the way forward. If we could get people to refer themselves onto our course before they are caught drink driving then they would save themselves a criminal conviction and the misery of being disqualified. He has made a good investment.”
Married with a 17-year-old son, George said: “It was a cold night. I was freezing and my taxi didn’t turn up so I just didn’t think and drove home. The next day I went to a police station and asked how I could make myself more aware about alcohol. I felt so guilty as my brother is a doctor and he tells me about everything that goes on.”
George, who works for a roadside rescue organisation, said it was the best course he had been on and now he knows all about alcohol units and how long alcohol stays in the body.
“I don’t like people who drink and drive and can’t believe I did it myself. Now I am more aware and it will never happen again. People who drink alcohol and drive should go on this course.”
The TTC Group, whose HQ was recently opened by the Princess Royal, has introduced its course into the workplace to educate the corporate sector about drink and drug driving to prevent employees from falling foul of the drink driving laws.
