By Thelma Etim BBC News, Southampton

Police will be targeting motorists over the festive period

Sgt Steven Capper, who has served with Thames Valley Police for 18 years, sees the human misery caused by people who drink and drive.

"How would these people feel if it was someone in their family who was killed," said the father-of-two.

"They are stupid. They do not understand the devastation they can cause."

The impact of a drink-drive road death is life-changing for all those involved Sgt Steven Capper

The 44-year-old believes there are some people who will continue to take risks and ignore the far-reaching consequences of their actions.

He added: "You can educate a large section of the community but there is a section who will not listen.

"I have interviewed people who are just concerned about losing their driving licence. They do not consider or see the fact that their drinking and driving is an issue for everyone else on the road."

Over the years, Sgt Capper has policed shocking scenes in the aftermath of accidents, one where debris was strewn for up to 40 yards across a street.

And he recalls a number of incidents where he has stopped inebriated parents with their children as passengers in the back of their vehicles.

'Shocking scenes'

"I was appalled, I could not believe that they would have put their children at risk as well as themselves," he said.

"Sometimes the reaction is one of embarrassment but sometimes it is indifference.

"It is so frustrating but it is my job. However, you have to remain professionally detached and investigate the incident."

A young man, who was accidentally killed by his 26-year-old lifelong friend while being driven through Thame, was one of the tragic cases the officer has dealt with.

"They had been out drinking together when they crashed, " Sgt Capper explained.

The campaign emphasises that any drinking can cause a fatal crash

"The driver, who suffered multiple injuries including a broken neck and smashed legs, received a seven-year prison sentence for two counts of death by dangerous driving."

About half-a-billion-pounds a year is spent covering the overall financial impact of road crashes in the Thames Valley region.

This includes medical insurance, the legal process, recovery of the vehicle, plus use of other accident-related services.

Government figures show 560 people died in 2003 in drink-related road accidents while 2,600 were seriously injured.

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling has thrown his weight behind a government campaign which warns drivers that just a small amount of alcohol before driving could still cause a fatal crash.

The road safety charity Brake has urged the government to take even tougher measures against drink-drivers by lowering the legal alcohol limit from 80mg per 100ml of blood to 50mg.

Mary Williams OBE, chief executive of Brake, said: "The government must make it clear that drink-driving is not acceptable at any time, Christmas or otherwise."

Sgt Capper is hoping people will actually heed this hard-hitting Christmas message.

"The impact of a drink-drive road death is life-changing for all those involved, "he said.