Bus company First is handing out ‘survival kits’ to office workers in Glasgow, in support of Strathclyde Police’s Christmas anti-drink drive campaign.
The kits make use of a visual of a sullen-looking dog sporting reindeer antlers and a red nose … They include a guide to First’s network of night bus services, a packet of ‘morning after’ mints to keep dog’s breath at bay, and a special offer for two cans of Red Bull for an energy boost the next day. The guide also contains useful facts and figures about the success of Strathclyde Police’s anti drink drive campaign last year. On a more light hearted note, there are also some imaginative things to say if you miss the bus and end up in the doghouse, with "A short fat man in a red suit offered me a lift" and "Somebody moved the bus stop" being just a few!
The guides will be given out to office workers during the morning rush hours this week by staff from First suitably dressed in reindeer antlers and wearing red noses.
Eric Stewart, managing director of First’s bus operations in Glasgow, said: "It’s a bit of fun, but does underline the point that you can leave the car at home, take the bus, have a drink or two, and not have to worry about being over the limit to drive home. Taking the bus also means you avoid the hassle of car parking and you can celebrate in the run up to Christmas without driving into town."
"We now have an extensive network of bus services that run every half hour or better after 7pm," said Eric Stewart. "There are eight bus routes that run 24 hours a day. At weekends these services run as often as every 15 minutes. After 1am there’s a flat fare of £2, no matter how far you travel. The Survival Guides carry full details of all of these bus services to help revelers have a great time."
Superintendent Derek Kirkwood, Head of Road Policing for Strathclyde Police said: "It is our experience that some people think that it’s acceptable to have a few drinks before driving and they won’t get caught, but with over 300 motorists giving positive breath tests from last years campaign, this is certainly not the case. Regularly we find that the car is left at home when attending a works night out, but the following morning and after only a few hours sleep, some motorists drive again with alcohol still in their system. All too often these drivers come to the attention of my officers, through collisions or simply their manner of driving and are arrested. I would therefore encourage all motorists to make alternative transport arrangements when they have been drinking and I welcome initiatives, such as the one launched by First, as a sensible alternative to finding yourself on the wrong side of the law."
