Determined to do their bit to reduce drink driving across the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Council areas, 57 pubs, clubs and bottle shops have joined forces to promote the Plan B campaign.
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Plan B is a statewide initiative encouraging patrons to think about an alternative to driving home after a night out.
Drink driving is one of the biggest causes of death and injury on NSW roads. Country people are at particular risk given the lack of public transport or other options for getting home.
More than three-quarters (79%) of fatal crashes and 57% of serious injury crashes involving illegal alcohol occurred in country areas.
In Western Region, there were 368 casualty crashes where alcohol was a contributing factor in the five year period 2013 - 2017. These crashes resulted in 36 people killed and 219 seriously injured.
During December, patrons at participating pubs, clubs and bottle shops will be invited to enter a competition to nominate a Plan B for getting home.
"Catch a cab, walk home or throw a swag out on a mate’s floor - we don’t mind what your Plan B is, so long as it’s not driving home," said Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils' Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor.
"Every entry puts patrons in the running to win a swag valued at $250 - there is one available at most pubs, clubs and bottle shops across the Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Council areas - 57 venues in total. The competition will be drawn on New Year's Eve.
"Local radio station ROK-FM will also be promoting the Plan B message by giving away Plan B packs on air - which include a $20 Cabcharge gift card, a t-shirt, a standard drink glass and fridge magnet photo frame - to callers who ring in with their Plan B for getting home safely. All the winners will go into the drawn to win a swag, which is drawn before Christmas," Ms Suitor said.
The promotion coincides with recent changes to drink driving laws which means mid-range drink drivers (blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 - 0.15) will now spend three months disqualified and need to have an alcohol interlock installed in their vehicle for a minimum of 12 months.
Additional changes mean if you are a repeat high-risk drink driver, Police will also have the power to take your number plates or vehicle on the spot.
"When planning a night out we encourage local patrons to think about a Plan B, but the best advice is to leave the car at home. That way there's no temptation to try to drive home. A crash or drink driving charge would not make for a happy new year," warned Ms Suitor.
