The European Night Without Accident is an awareness campaign organised each year in nightclubs all over Europe on the 3rd Saturday of October. In each nightclub, a team of youngsters welcomes the drivers at the entrance and encourages them to take up a responsible attitude behind the wheel. The driver who wants to participate makes a promise with our team: he commits himself to remain sober. When they leave the party, our team suggests to voluntarily take a alcohol test and/or a drug test. This month, the event took place in over 25 European countries.
Why the European Night Without Accident?
The European Night Without Accident was created after the observation of the huge numbers of car accidents happening on weekends’ nights in which young people are often involved.
The action takes place in two phases. First, the volunteers encourage each group to choose a “designated driver” who agrees to make a promise: he commits himself to remain sober when he sits behind the wheel of his vehicle. The volunteers ask him/her to wear a bracelet to be recognizable.
When the “designated drivers” leave the nightclub, we give them the opportunity to undergo a breath analysis in order to check if they have honoured their commitment. If this is the case, the “designated drivers” are rewarded with small presents offered by our partners and sponsors. If this is not the case, volunteers encourage the person to leave his/her car on the side or to hand the keys to a friend who did not drink any alcohol, neither used drugs. Its goal is not to be repressive or to spread a negative message; on the contrary we always try to go deeper into discussion with the revelers in order to find the most reasonable solution to arrive home safely.
2011 Edition of the European Night Without Accident
This year, the action took place across Europe once again in over 25 countries with thousands of alcohol and drug tests taking place simulateously on one night, 15th October. The event has the potential to save millions of young lives as well as raise awareness about road safety across Europe!
We know that many of our members took part in the event so we welcome you to send us your pictures and comments to be featured on the website!