Work Christmas parties, Plan to get home safely

27 November 2017

A safe Christmas party is the best workplace Christmas party for all your friends and colleagues.

It’s now time to consider: does your workplace have a Plan B to get every one home safely?

Party goers are being encouraged to leave the car at home and make a taxi your Plan B this festive season.

The Orange Liquor Accord and Taxi Cabs of Orange are supporting Orange City Councils’ Plan B Free Taxi voucher scheme again this year.

When employers or employees register their workplace Christmas party online at www.orange.nsw.gov.au/planb, the first 10 businesses that register each week will receive up to 10 taxi vouchers valued at $10 each.

All entrants who also submit an anti-drink driving slogan on the entry form will go into the draw for a $500 rebate toward their staff Christmas party.

CAB IT : Orange mayor Reg Kidd, pictured with Orange taxi driver Rex Moscrop, is urging party-goers to catch a cab home from workplace Christmas parties this year.

Mayor of Orange Reg Kidd said the right planning will deliver a fun and safe Christmas party.

“if you’re celebrating and alcohol is involved then it’s simple. Leave the car at home and make a taxi your Plan B,” Mayor Reg Kidd said.

“With the support of the hotels of the Orange Liquor Accord and the Taxis of Orange we encourage employers and employees to register their workplace Christmas party. It’s important that all workmates are aware of the risks of drink-driving and the consequences for their families”.

Road Safety Officer for Orange and Cabonne Councils Andrea Hamilton-Vaughan said employers should remind their staff about the potential dangers of drink driving at this celebratory time of year.

Alcohol and driving is a dangerous equation and small amounts effective a driver’s reaction times and judgement calls.

“Managers and supervisors wouldn’t think twice about looking after their staff by keeping their workplace safe and organised to avoid risks,” Andrea Hamilton-Vaughan said. “It’s the same with planning a Christmas Party, to make sure everyone gets home safely.’

ROAD SAFETY : Pictured at the launch of the 'Plan B' road safety campaign are (l. to r.) Road Safetu officer Andrea Hamilton-Vaughan, Orange mayor Reg Kidd, Orange Liquor Accord chair, Mr Bill Kelly, Taxis of Orange Co-operative chair, Darryl Curran and Orange taxi driver Rex Moscrop.

The Orange Liquor Accord is contributing $1500 towards the costs of the campaign. Orange Liquor Accord chair, Mr Bill Kelly said a taxi voucher could make all the difference to a successful Christmas party.

“Calling a cab after a Christmas party is a great way of looking after your work-mates and making sure they get home safely,” Bill Kelly said. “This campaign makes good sense. It’s all about planning ahead and making sure you’ve got a Plan B.”

Taxis of Orange Co-operative chair, Darryl Curan, said the option of catching a cab home after a party should be part of the routine.

“The taxi drivers of Orange give a high priority to keeping their customers safe. It’s good that we can take this opportunity to spread the road safety message across the community. If you value your licence, don’t drink and drive”.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION :

Alcohol was a contributing factor in 13 percent of fatal accidents and 6 percent of injury crashes in Orange over the past 5 years.

In the Cabonne council area, 19 percent of fatal accidents are attributed to alcohol and 8 percent of injury crashes where the driver was impaired by alcohol.

The Plan B campaign is supported by funding from Transport NSW through the Local Government Road Safety Program.