Free phones to help drink-drive crackdown

May 4, 2006: The Scottish Executive and Road Safety Scotland have linked up with Direct Line to launch a free phone service in pubs to help stop motorists from drink driving. This initiative will be piloted in Glasgow.

Free phones are now being placed in 14 public houses throughout the city centre, suburban and rural areas which will allow people to pick up the receiver and be directly connected to the nearest taxi company in the area.

There will be A3 posters placed above the phones in public houses advertising the service.

Scottish & Newcastle and Punchline Taverns have provided support from public houses who wish to have the special phone line installed and taxi services in Glasgow have also signed up to provide their service.

Patrick Browne, of the Scottish Beer and Pubs Association added: "We are glad that this initiative has been launched which hopefully will make a contribution in tackling the issue of drink driving in Scotland

"We will, however, be pressing the Scottish Executive to support the industry in Scotland in embracing more fully the Portman Group's 'I'll Be Des' initiative, as part of their wider road safety campaign, and we will be writring to the Scottish Executive's Transport Minister, Tavish Scott MSP, asking for his support in doing this."