EDITORIAL: City's driving plan a winner
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HAVE a back-up plan or you could become a drink-driving victim.
That’s the message for Border Christmas-New Year revellers this festive season.
Albury Council’s “Plan B” campaign is directed at everyone going out for a few Christmas drinks, with young men a particular concern.
Albury road safety officer Lauren Musil said drink-driving was the second-biggest killer on NSW roads.
“It’s important also that we target men because they make up 97 per cent of the drink-driving fatalities,” Mrs Musil said.
“We’re targeting all venues, particularly trying to get posters into male toilets to get that constant reminder out there.”
The campaign was first run in Albury early this year to coincide with Australia Day celebrations.
Mrs Musil said the campaign was also about working in partnership with the city’s pubs.
“The licensed premises are always positive when we talk to them about supplying them with merchandise,” she said.
“They hang up banners for drink-drive awareness.
“Most Albury venues will be supplied with T-shirts — particularly if they’ve got bar staff — drink coasters, bottle bags and stickers to put on cartons of alcohol.
“It’s about continually reminding people that if they are indulging over Christmas and New Year to have a plan B to arrive home safely.”
Mrs Musil said the Plan B message was already well known, especially among young people.
“People are joking about it, such as ‘what’s your Plan B — are you going to marry a cabbie?’,” she said.
“They’re talking about it in trivial ways, but they’re still reminding each other to have a plan.”
Mrs Musil said people also should be aware that there would be a Nightrider bus on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
“We’re really encouraging people to use that Nightrider service,” she said.
“For $5, they can jump on that bus and it will drop them at their door.”
The bus will pick up passengers from key licensed venues in central Albury.