Call for action as one in four admit family member is likely to drive after excess Xmas Spirit but WATCH OUT as four out of ten revealed they would report their relatives to the police!

In a bid to tackle the problem of drink-driving, not-for-profit road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist is calling for an adoption of the Boy Scout motto to BE PREPARED this Xmas and for INFLATABLE BEDS to become a essential item in your car’s Road Safety Kit.
A survey carried out by the organisation found that a quarter of family gatherings at Xmas are likely to result in someone getting behind the wheel after too much ‘Christmas spirit’. Of those who anticipated a particular relative would be drinking to excess - then driving; nearly 100% worried or anticipated it would cause them some concern on the day, the survey revealed. Despite this, 1 in 5 still maintained they would not even consider staying over at a friends or relatives in case they drank too much or go to the trouble of booking taxis.

However drink driving relatives better watch out this Xmas as 42% of those surveyed said they would report a friend or family member to the police! It seems that the public has had a change of heart compared to last year, when a similar survey revealed that only 3% would blow the whistle on their nearest and dearest, a staggering 40% would not even consider it, and a further two in five would do so only if that person appeared to be incapable of driving.

As well as being more eager to call the police this Christmas, 9 out of 10 admitted they would take some positive actions if necessary to prevent friends or relatives drinking to excess and/or getting behind the wheel. But while watering down their drink is the least likely tactic, rather more of us might take inspiration from the Nuns in Christmas movie favourite, The Sound of Music, by attempting to disable the car in some way.

However, according to GEM, just being prepared could help alleviate the problem, with the driver or hostess being open to the probability rather than the possibility of a sleepover to end the evening. “If people went out with the idea of staying the night in mind, it would significantly reduce the numbers of drink drivers on the road” said GEM’s CEO David Williams, MBE. He continued: “We are really very shocked at the high number of family gatherings that are likely to be affected by this appalling offence but we are pleased to see attitudes are changing. Year after year we hear stories of people who suffer the devastation of having someone killed by a drink driver at Christmas yet so many still feel they are above the law or it would never happen to them.” Mr Williams continued: “It is particularly good however to see that people are now more prepared to report guests to the police even if they are friends or relatives and take necessary actions to prevent them from driving! Our aim is to get drink drivers off the roads completely and being prepared to sleep over after a party could be the answer in helping to reduce these tragedies whatever the time of year.”

So committed is GEM to supporting this idea, it has got together with Worlds Apart www.worldsapart.com makers of the hugely popular Ready Beds to offer 6 Double Adult Ready Beds as a prize draw this Xmas and anyone can enter by visiting www.motoringassist.com/sleepover. Ready Beds are an all in one sleepover solution including mattress, pillow and comfy inflatable mattress, and comes complete with a battery operated inflator taking a matter of a couple of minutes to get your bed ready! Whether you are the hostess or guest, with a Ready Bed no one has to spend time making up a bed or endure any unwanted laundry! The six lucky winners drawn at random on 10th December will receive their Ready Beds in time for Xmas.