Some call it the ‘silly season’, some call it the ‘holiday season’, for some it is a time of great personal meaning. But whichever way you look at it, there are certainly more people out and about on the roads and in our towns.
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Whatever your view, it is a time for social gatherings, holiday trips and spending time with family and friends. I have always had the same message - enjoy the break from work and enjoy your social gatherings.
But we all know that with these activities comes some risk and these risks are easy to manage if we all take the time to enjoy the season safely.
So rather than sit here and shake my finger at you all, with lectures about road safety and drinking responsibly, let me come at it from a different angle this time around.
With every tragedy comes an effect that never really ever goes away for the family, friends and communities who are left behind. In nearly 30 years of policing, myself, along with my colleagues, know that all too well.
We see families who are devastated by lasting emptiness when they lose a loved one, or who are forever impacted by acquired disabilities caused by momentary lapses in good judgement, impatience or alcohol-fuelled decision-making.
The majority of these come from road trauma, but Australia is also seeing an increasing number of people who are injured at social functions or when they have partied just that little bit too hard.
Alcohol impairs judgement in many more ways than just behind the wheel of a car, and certainly is compounded by other illicit substances which may be slipped into drinks intentionally or without a person’s knowledge.
So I am not going to shake the finger.
I am just going to give you my five tips regarding what you can do to influence your own outcomes during this festive season.
- Drink responsibly and have a ‘plan B’ to get home. Your plans might change during the night, but always let someone know where you are, how you are going to get home, and how to contact you.
- Be patient. Next to alcohol, I think that impatience is the greatest killer on our roads. Yes, the kids might be screaming and the grandparents might be waiting on you to carve the Christmas roast, but they can wait. I am sure they would prefer you to arrive at your destination safely than put yourself at risk to avoid lumpy gravy.
- Don’t leave drinks unattended. You might be the nicest person in the world but you really have to accept that others around you might not be. People spike drinks, and it is usually with a sinister motive in mind.
- Beware the box it came in! You got a new television that is as big as the state of Texas and it came in a box. Before you shatter the windows with the opening scenes from Top Gun, don’t forget to get rid of the box. If you leave it lying around every criminal knows where to ‘shop’ for their own big screen. Don’t be a victim of opportunity.
- Finally, look after yourself. It seems to be a disappearing art form for people to actually take responsibility for their own actions and safety. It seems increasingly trendy to look for someone else to blame rather than making good decisions from the outset. Ultimately, you are the boss of you!
I wish you a happy and safe holiday on behalf of the Albury local area command and the troops here who work hard to keep you safe.