First bus had a bit of a display on in town today to show off their "you drink, we drive" campaign in Sheffield this festive season.

And of course, Sheffield Forum was in the thick of the action taking pictures before the Star had even flipped a notebook ;)

As a real alternative to drinking and driving this Christmas, First, Yorkshire’s largest bus operator has just launched a joint campaign in partnership with South Yorkshire Police.

In a bid to reduce the number of drink driving offences from nearly 500 in South Yorkshire during the first half of this year, the campaign aims to bring together pubs, restaurants, bars and clubs to encourage people to use the bus to get around whilst enjoying sociable drinks this Christmas.

It is alarming that last year in the UK, road accidents involving drink driving caused 560 deaths, 2,700 serious injuries and 19,000 minor injuries.

From now until the New Year, people gathering in venues across Yorkshire will find several reminders that drinking and driving is not an option, and First will be strongly encouraging them to get the bus instead. These reminders can be found on 75,000 specially designed beer mats, on hundreds of posters inside First buses and displayed on the back of First buses, all endorsed by South Yorkshire Police.

“The idea is to appeal to people’s consciences at moments when their resolve might be weakening and driving home is still being considered” says Brandon Jones, Commercial Director of First in South Yorkshire. “We want as many people as possible to consider getting the bus for their nights out and with all the frequent services available, there’s plenty of room for everyone.”

“Its great to go out and celebrate Christmas” says Chief Inspector Liz Watson, South Yorkshire Police, “but make your travel plans before you go out. If you take the car please don’t drink at all. It’s not worth chancing losing your licence or being involved in a crash.” Link (http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/yorkhumber/southyorkshire/news/news.php?item=828)

The Drunks Trail Trial (http://members.lycos.co.uk/ctrlaltdeluk/sf1.jpg)

David Turner - FirstMainline's Marketing Manager has a go at the trial (http://members.lycos.co.uk/ctrlaltdeluk/sf2.jpg)

David Turner - nearing the end of the trial (http://members.lycos.co.uk/ctrlaltdeluk/sf4.jpg)

dont think it will work very well last bus from town on crimbo eve is about 5.30 pm none on boxing day same new years eve what a shambles

Well are the buses going to be running through the festive period or are we going to be stuck looking for taxis or staying local.
Its all very well saying look at our promotion but you are still left without public transport over x mass.

mmmmm more drunks on our buses, just what we need.

I think with all the money South Yorkshire Police have made over the year with the police camera's they could afford to run a free bus service. :hihi: :hihi: :hihi:

I m sure they will indeed have a free service trouble is it will be to the nick.
I wonder if the bus men woul'd work the festive period for say treble time,it might be worth it fir first to find out.:heyhey:

Originally posted by Disco_Cat
mmmmm more drunks on our buses, just what we need.

Sorry but would you rather that they drive on our roads???

For years I used to get stuck in town with no busses and no chance of a taxi on chrismas eve and NYeve. I now stay nearer home. The only way to get around it would be to have double fare and triple time for the drivers on these two nights, but obviously busses until 1 or 2 am.

Hardly anybody wants to catch the bus on chrismas day or boxing day, so the poor old drivers get a good rest anyhow.

The only trouble with staying local is that you have a right job getting into the pubs with all those once a year drinkers who get all the seats,it really ****** me off.:mad:

I totally agree. My local is the Abbey. And when the old landlord had it and it was better, the place used to be packed out with middle/old aged couples in their sunday best who looked like they went into a pub once a year or less. They looked truly horrified about how full it was. But they didn't stay long usually. Nowadays the new landlord has a private party for his friends and a small handfull of locals and the doors are locked.

Next door at the big tree, they have a dj in a cupboard to save space (true story my friend did this fro them 3 consecutive years) and there are so many people in that the carpets are ruined.

However I know a few pubs which are 30 minutes walk where I know we can get in and have a good night.

Yes you can bet your bottom dollar that the part timers will be the first in the pub,I wish more landlords woul'd have a policy of letting the locals in for say the first hour and then everyone else.
I am sure it can be done as the landlord knows those who frequent the place and those he only sees once a year.
And one more thing it really bugs me when they sit there all smug looking at everyone.

Well Roy, I don't know if you are older than me, but in my experience these occasions are such an anticlimax, that I'd be just as happy with booze in the house and bed when I feel like it, rather than when Kylie cuts to trafalgar square on the pub TV. If I didn't have any friends it would be lots less hassle. Although we do make the effort, it usually just turns into another saturday night drink, with the same people, but having no taxi or bus available to get home.

But if your local pubs are too full, won't other people's pubs be full too? So what is the point in going to another area?

I'm lucky, because I live within walking (or crawling) distance of the city centre and also within walking distance of pubs at Netherthorpe, Upperthorpe, Walkley, and Broomhall.

Last New Years Eve we walked down to Ecclesall Road and staggered back up through Weston Park in the snow. Hope we get snow again this year :thumbsup:

Originally posted by Patchy
Hope we get snow again this year :thumbsup:


I don't

Nearly got frostbite walking home last year in converse trainers....

Patchy,
No when you live in a very busy place like I do (Woodseats) then there are pubs in nearby districts in all directions which are less full. Norton Lees, Greenhill, Millhouses Heeley. And I know because I have been to them on N.Y.eve & C.eve. they are worth going to, and easily walked.

Ian,
Walking or Hiking boots are proper wear for pub crawling. And stop you falling over and getting twisted ankles etc... Years of practice :thumbsup:

Originally posted by muddycoffee
Patchy,
No when you live in a very busy place like I do (Woodseats) then there are pubs in nearby districts in all directions which are less full. Norton Lees, Greenhill, Millhouses Heeley. And I know because I have been to them on N.Y.eve & C.eve. they are worth going to, and easily walked.


That's what I mean... there are always less full pubs within walking distance. So there is no excuse for drink driving and blaming it on the lack of buses. Nobody should need to catch a bus or drive after drinking on Christmas Eve night or New Years Ever night.

Yes Muddycoffee I do think that these ocasions sometimes are a let down,I feel that they are blown out of proportion and maybe this contributes to the feeling of anti climax.
I am fortunate that I live close to the city centre and if I wish I can walk into town,mind you sometimes town is dead.
Still we all seem to go along with the festive jollys and hell why not.
PS might just get a few cans in and chill out /only joking. :D

Yeah Roy, my brother used to live at heeley green, which is close to city centre, and on newyears eve 1999/2000 we went into town and 1/3 of all places were just shut and lights off, 1/3 were just open as normal and about as busy as a sunday night and the other 1/3 were ticket only. I remember it raining as got to campo lane and dog let us in because we looked soaked, and although it was a private party they were v welcoming and let us have some food.

On the whole it was fun looking around but a complete waste of time as a night out, and if any of my usual drinking mates would have been there they'd have hated it. I finished up at their house for midnight and walked home after, and it was amazing as the streets were flooded with families and pushchairs at 1am in the morning.. surreal.

I actually think Christmas Eve is a better night out than New Year's Eve. As you've said Roy, there's too muh pressure with NYE, and you can just have a nice relaxing ****-up on Christmas Eve!

Roy, I wish town was as dead as you think for New Years Eve! We are still trying to work out where to go within walking distance. Hope we don't end up in Bathfield or Star and Garter (although my other half is good on karecroake)!

Originally posted by Disco_Cat
mmmmm more drunks on our buses, just what we need. Dont need any more drunks & morons on the local buses its what has put a lot of people off travelling on the buses these days.

Originally posted by d71146
Dont need any more drunks & morons on the local buses its what has put a lot of people off travelling on the buses these days.

And the passengers aren't much better either! :thumbsup:

Whilst it is a serious message, I cannot take it seriously from First bus. How can we use the bus to get home from Christmas and New Year parties when they are shutting the service down at 5:30pm!

And then last night, I got to the bus stop at Bradway at 5:40pm. and was still stood there freezing cold at 6:30pm. 2 buses went past out of service during that time, no bus actually turned up to pick passengers up during the 45 minutes I was stood. Buses are meant to be every 30 minutes. In the end I gace up and went into town by car, otherwise I would not have made it to the restaurant in time for the meal I was going to.

Originally posted by muddycoffee
Ian,
Walking or Hiking boots are proper wear for pub crawling. And stop you falling over and getting twisted ankles etc... Years of practice :thumbsup:

Yeah lol but I didn't expect it to snow.

Worse thing was that I was sobering up on the way home and gradually becoming more in pain as I felt the cold more!