RESULTS - EUROPEAN NIGHT WITHOUT ACCIDENT, 17th OCT 09

European Night Without Accident

October 17^thby RSI “Panos Mylonas”

RESULTS

Road Safety Institute “Panos Mylonas (RSI – www.ioas.gr, www.rsi-panosmylonas.gr) has organized with great success the event “European Night Without Accident” in Greece and Cyprus together with the European organization in 27 countries (Belgium, Luxemburg, France, Poland, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Spain, Slovakia, Malta, Cyprus, Italy, Czech Republic, Hungary, Finland, Bulgaria, United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Slovenia, Romania) on Saturday night, October 17^th  2009, in cooperation with the “Responsible Young Drivers” (RYD) of Belgium, presenting to young people that drinking and driving do not match.

The event took place simultaneously in 17 nightclubsin 10 cities of Greece, according to the following chart1:

CHART 1

The message of the event was: “All have fun; ONE does not drink… the designated Driver”.

The main cause for this action was that the consumption of alcohol and high speed are the main causes of traffic accidents in our country, as in the rest of Europe. Especially on Saturday night there is a tripled number of fatal traffic accidents occurring.

According to statistics of the Traffic Police for the year 2008, 18.5% of the total number fatal incidents (1.387), were caused by heavy drinking (257 incidents).

About 100 volunteers in the 17 nightclubs were present during the night to motivate young people not to consume alcohol in the case of being the “designated” driver. The help of the Traffic Police was significant by training the RSI volunteers how to use the breathalyzers that were also disposed to the Institute, after the request of RSI, for the needs of the event.

Volunteers from the Institute were also present in Cyprus for the organization of the corresponding event in 6 clubs of Nicosiaand Limassol in collaboration with the Department of Traffic Police in Cyprus, the Road Safety Council, the University of Nicosia and the Foundation for Research and Education "George M. Mavrikios”.

More than 2.000 young people, driving their own vehicle to the nightclubs, have promised not to consume any alcohol and worn a bracelet when entering, in order to commit themselves and have a friendly breathalyzer test by exiting the nightclub. More than 40% of participants made a friendly breathalyzer test, of which 1 / 4 of the total were above the limitset by the Highway Code (≥ 0,25 milligram of exhaled air and over and ≥ 0,10 mm for professional drivers, motorcyclists and novice drivers who have a driving license for a period of less than 2 years while in Cyprus the rate is 0.20 in either cases).

It is worth noting that in Chania and Rhodes, 1 out of 3 young people who were the designated drivers were found over the limit by measuring the alcohol out of the nightclub, followed by Athens, Halkida, Chios, Syros and Larissaat a ratio 1 out of 4 and finally Serresa ratio 1 out of 5 and Patras and Thessaloniki with a ratio 1 out of 7 young people for the year 2009 (see chart 2).

According to these data, the results were more optimistic in the big cities than in smaller cities.
It is also worth noting is that in regions where the event had been previously presented by the Institute, the rates were significantly improved.

In addition there were many conscientious young people in Athensand Halkida who came by public transport, to drink and return home safely.

In Cyprus 286breathalyzer tests sere carried out as well in a total of 575 persons who wore bracelets: 25.9% of drivers were over the limit while the others had kept their promise of zero consumption or within the limit.

This action took place simultaneously in 10 cities with the support of ATTIKI ODOS S.A. (Athens) and DIAGEO Hellas S.A. (rest of the country) which support such initiatives and significant actions in the field of road safety, aiming to inform young people and educate them on issues of driving behaviour and safety in combination with alcohol consumption.

For the success of this event many Organizations have willingly participated, such as Aegean Motorway SA in Larissa, the Prefecture of Achaiawith the vice-prefecturer of Health and Welfare in cooperation with the voluntary organization of the University of Patras DIAPASON and the Local Youth Council which was held for the 1st time in 2 nightclubs in Patras, E.Y.THY.T.A . in Rhodes, the Aegean University, the Department of Mental Health Hospital of Chios and the Radio Taxi "24 hours" in Chios and Municipality of Serres, the Directorate of Primary and Secondary Education of Serres and the Circuit of Serres where was held for the 1st time; as well as valuable was the help and commitment of volunteers & coordinators of the Institute locally. Radio taxis in the province have also supported the event, since they offered to be on duty - ready to carry young people who were over the limit at home safely.

Photo gallery:  www.ioas.gr/index.php?ID=latest_news&Rec_ID=1413

Part I: the volunteers of the Institute inform the young people about the event and wear a bracelet to those who are interested
Part II: young people come along for a friendly breathalyzer test upon leaving the nightclub 
Part III: young people who kept their promise and did not consume alcohol receive the gifts offered by the Institute

Chart 2