COMPANY car drivers across Europe are being targeted by a major drink-driving campaign launched by the European Union after research revealed one-third of fatal road accidents are caused by drink.

Nearly 40,000 people die every year on roads in the EU, so cutting drink-related deaths will save thousands of lives.

The EU is investing funding worth up to €1.1 million in schemes operated by seven EU countries to help combat the problem.

Loyola de Palacio, Commission vice-president with responsibility for transport said: 'The Commission is happy to support this pan-European road safety campaign which is emulated each year as a result of the decisive results achieved.'

And in a personal message to drivers, Palacio said: 'I trust that your safety and that of your nearest and dearest and other road users will be of permanent concern to you each time you take to the road.'

The European Commission is providing 'substantial support' to the efforts of seven EU countries: Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain which have set up designated driver campaigns.

The EU said that in 1995, in a bid to combat the problem, Belgium launched the first awareness-raising campaigns on the 'bob' theme to encourage people travelling by car to always designate somebody who will refrain from drinking and make sure that the others get home safely.

Since then, with support from the Commission, other similar schemes have been launched in Spain, Ireland, France, Denmark, The Netherlands, Greece and Portugal.