Christmas road safety drive
ENIGMATIC motoring personality formerly known as The Stig was in Belfast yesterday to launch a designated driver campaign for the Christmas period.
The Stig is best known as the mystery “tame racing driver” from the Top Gear programme, who tests out all the high-performance cars and teaches the ‘stars in a reasonably-priced car’ to do a racing lap.
The original Stig, dressed all in black, never took off his helmet to conceal his identity.
The debate over his identity, plus his driving prowess, turned the unknown racer into something of a cult figure.
He was revealed some time back as former Formula One driver Perry McCarthy, who fully backs the designated driver scheme.
A huge success when it first launched last year, it is hoped that the campaign will further reduce instances of drink-driving this Christmas.
Perry, who turned up in his black racing suit and helmet to launch the campaign, said: “I think it’s a great idea and I think it’s great the way that Coca-Cola is going about it, because it’s a cute way of bringing the message home, to say, ‘look – one person should be driving and not drinking and the rest of you, have fun’, but there has got to be some responsibility taken.
“I’m of the opinion that people shouldn’t have any kind of drink, because the moment you have one, it impairs your perception of what’s happening, it impairs your judgment and your ability on the road.”
The driving expert said the roads were just as dangerous as the track: “People need to be on the ball and drink will not help that. It just amazes me how many people think ‘Oh, it’ll be OK’ and then they are travelling with their children, their family or their friends and they are quite literally putting people’s lives in danger – not just their own and their passengers, but other road users.
“I come from a background of motor-racing where we have to be in tip-top shape, and that’s taking it to the extreme, but on the roads people have really got to start thinking of themselves and their bodies and heads as well.”
He said: “I really love teaching people how to drive and how to just take the edge off their driving and make them smoother and more predictable and people should do that on the road.
“Take a step back and you’ll be better and safer instead of being rough and making the car swerve and use too much energy and everything else – use your head and think ahead.”
The designated driver initiative is backed by the DoE and PSNI and will reward drivers who choose not to drink this December with free soft drinks from Coca-Cola.
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Weather for Belfast
Monday 13 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 9 C
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
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