NLG Hotel Group teams up with the RTA this Easter Long Weekend to curb drink driving on NSW roads

Media Release: 30th March 2010

NLG Hotel Group will be working with the RTA on their “Mobile RBT, you won’t know where, you won’t know when” campaign to make New South Wales roads safer this Easter. All NLG Hotel Group venues in NSW will install breathalyser machines in the lead up to the Easter Long Weekend to curb drink driving across the state and raise awareness of the issues in the interest of patron safety and community responsibility.

Drink driving is a factor in about one in every five crashes in NSW where someone loses their life. Of the people killed, 88 per cent are men and 75 per cent are under the age of 40. 30 percent of all fatal drink drive crashes occur between 9pm and 3am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Since the introduction of RBT in 1982, fatal crashes involving alcohol have dropped from 40 per cent of all fatalities to the current level of 19 per cent. Last year police conducted 3.4million breath tests in NSW.

The RTA conducts a number of state, regional and local campaigns to address drink driving each year. Information is provided through the campaigns to assist patrons to understand the consequences of alcohol consumption and driving, to plan their night out and a safe trip home. This campaign has been developed in conjunction with NLG Hotel Group to raise awareness of the issues in the interests of patron safety. The project is supported by the RTA through the provision of in-venue information, coasters, posters, TV advertising campaigns and breathalyser machines. It is also supported by coordinated messages on the road network, via bus backs and sides, bridge banners, police enforcement and variable message boards.

NLG Hotel Group understands the role their venues will play over the Easter weekend with a significant increase in patronage over the holiday period. With the increase in patronage across the Easter Weekend throughout all NSW venues, NLG as a group has the ability to effectively communicate this important message to approximately 60,000 patrons.

“Teaming up with the RTA, NLG will be given the opportunity to showcase our philosophy on community responsibility. Many of our entertainment venues have already implemented our Safe Venue project which includes initiatives like rewarding  designated drivers to the venue with free soft drink throughout the duration of their visit” National Operations Manager, Dan Brady said “The RTA endorsed Easter initiative will further allow NLG as a group to showcase our focus on patron safety and commitment to respective local communities by assisting with the education surrounding this important issue on the dawn of a traditionally horrendous weekend on NSW roads” Dan Brady continued.

The installation of breathalyser machines across all NSW venues will give the venues the ability to both communicate this important message to its patrons and also ensure the safety of each of their patrons.