Hands-on drink-driving message

16 September 2004

Hands-on drink-driving message to be promoted by hotels and taverns Toilet humour takes on a new dimension in many hotels and taverns this week.

Men standing at urinals in over 250 pubs and hotels around New Zealand are about to receive road safety messages.

Bruce Robertson of the New Zealand Hospitality Association says there will be a moment of truth for men as they stand at the urinals, with changing messages which are “moisture activated”.

“One message says ‘if you drink and don’t drive you’re a bloody legend’, and the other says ‘if you drink and drive you’re a bloody idiot’, and these are messages which quite rightly have no subtlety,” says Mr Robertson.

The campaign is being run in association with the Land Transport Safety Authority and Mr Robertson says his members were enthusiastic to be part of the promotion.

“Our members have often been unfairly accused of lacking responsibility in promoting driver safety and responsibility. This is a tangible and hopefully an effective way of demonstrating how serious our industry is when it comes to keeping drink drivers off the roads,” he said.

The campaign is aimed primarily at men. Research shows that about 80% of drink driving incidents involve male drivers.

“Drinking drivers are a menace and if this campaign promotes and encourages any additional responsible attitudes, we’ll be delighted and relieved,” says Mr Robertson.

ENDS

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