Campaign to stop NYE drink-driving

A MAJOR anti-drink-driving advertising campaign is airing on 10 French television channels this week, as a survey shows half of drivers have not worked out how they will get home from the New Year's Eve festivities.

The poll by the Prevention Routière association found 88% of respondents planned to drink alcohol on the night of December 31, and 64% were planning to drink at least three glasses of wine, pushing them over the legal drink-drive limit.

Nearly half of respondents said they would be travelling in a car. Of these, half had not yet worked out how they would return home.

The Sécurité Routière website has provided advice and some "choice words" to help partygoers reason with someone who is planning to drive home drunk. A TV ad campaign explains the importance of looking after friends and stopping them getting behind the wheel.

Prévention Routière spokesman Stéphane Daeschner said: "Alcohol is involved in 30% of fatal road accidents during the year. On Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, that increases to 50%."