FRANCE — For the launch of the Rugby World Cup in France, the Victimes & Citoyens association and the joga agency have launched a new campaign to raise drivers’ awareness of the dangers of the “third half.”
The Rugby World Cup is about to kick off! Since September 08, millions of fans across France have been celebrating and supporting their teams. But to ensure that this event remains a celebration for all, it’s vital to raise awareness as much as possible of the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol (or drugs) after matches.
Accompanied by the agency joga, the association Victimes & Citoyens, supported by the French Road Safety Authority, MILDECA, and GMF, is speaking out with a campaign designed to remind people of the risks involved in driving after such moments of collective emotion.
It’s a story we have all heard: two friends are watching a match in a bar. They’re laughing, they’re happy, they’re drinking. At some point, it’s time to go home. One wants to take his car. He’s not dead drunk, but he’s had too much to drink. His buddy has a choice: try to make him take responsibility, at the risk of looking like the slacker on duty, or let him go and keep his fingers crossed. After all, he lives nearby, he knows the road and he knows what he’s doing. Through a two-minute sequence shot by David Findlay, represented by Solab, we live the story of this choice.
Julien Thibault, President of the Victimes & Citoyens Association, commented on the campaign: “Having a few drinks with friends without worrying about coming back from the evening — this behavior is still too often trivialized. And with good reason: alcohol still accounts for 30% of road deaths. This campaign comes at the start of the Rugby World Cup. These convivial moments are favorable conditions for excesses, including alcohol consumption. The consequences on the roads are tragic.”
In celebration or defeat, let’s all keep in mind our sense of responsibility. During the World Cup too, when someone close to us is not fit to drive, we have to tell them so. Two minutes of video, to avoid watching the film in your head over and over again for the rest of your life.
