Issued on: Tuesday 18 December 2018

Firefighters from Oakham have teamed up with local pubs, bars and restaurants, in a bid to make Rutland’s roads safer this Christmas.

Eight drinking establishments across Rutland will take part in the scheme, which encourages motorists to be a designated driver on a night out.

To avoid drink-driving, free soft drinks will be given to anyone who refrains from drinking alcohol and instead, choose to drive their friend’s and family home safely, helping them to celebrate safely.

Adam Johnson, Crew Manager at Oakham Fire Station, said: “Drink-driving is dangerous and puts people’s lives at risk. We are working with our local community to help make our roads safer, by rewarding those that choose to drive home safely instead of drinking alcohol.

“We are so pleased the local community are on board with this scheme and helping to make this happen.

“If you are going out, we want you to celebrate safely, but in order to stay safe, we recommend that you nominate a non-drinking designated driver for the evening. It’s a much safer alternative to drink-driving.”

Dominic Way, from The Blue Ball at Braunston, added: “It is an excellent idea and we fully support the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service drink-driving campaign.”

The free soft drinks scheme will run now, until to New Year’s Day, and will be in the following venues:

  • Barnsdale Lodge, Oakham
  • The Crown Tavern, Crown Street, Oakham
  • Wildwood, High Street, Oakham
  • Mill Street Pub and Kitchen, Mill Street, Oakham *(maximum of three pints of draught soft drink)
  • The Old Plough, Braunston, Oakham
  • The Blue Ball, Braunston, Oakham *(limitless draught soft drinks for the driver with a table of four or more)
  • The Noel, Main Road, Whitwell, Oakham *(limitless draught soft drinks for the driver with a table of four or more)
  • Wisteria Hotel, Oakham *(soft drinks for the driver with a table of four or more)

To claim your free soft drink *(conditions apply), designated drivers will need to mention, at the bar, the Facebook post from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service Oakham Fire Station, advertising the scheme. You can watch it here, https://www.facebook.com/LFRSOakham/.

The scheme forms part of the wider Celebrate Safely campaign, which takes place across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to remind people how to celebrate safely during the festive period.

For more information on how to Celebrate Safely this Christmas and New Year, visit www.celebratesafely.com.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
Interviews can be arranged through prior arrangement with Corporate Communications on the details below.

About the Service
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service provides emergency response, prevention and protection services from 20 stations across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Its headquarters is based in Birstall, Leicester.

The Service’s prevention, education, enforcement and inspection programmes have resulted in significant reductions in the number of incidents. In the last ten years, fire-related incidents have reduced by 43 percent. 

During 2016/17, the Service attended 694 road traffic collisions, of which 148 were extrications from vehicles, in addition to ­2,259 fires. 272 schools were visited as part of the Service’s schools programme, delivering fire and road safety education to pupils. Staff organised or took part in 1,613 community safety events, promoting fire and road safety and arson prevention, and 145 Virtual Fatal Four (VF4) events as part of the Service’s young drivers’ road safety project. 

Contact:
Corporate Communications
Direct: 0116 229 2195
corporate.communications@lfrs.org

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