It's that time of year and workplaces are beginning to plan that all important annual event: the workplace Christmas party.
Orange and Cabonne Road Safety Program want employees and employers to enjoy the freedom of the annual get together after what has been a difficult year for all.
Council's annual taxi voucher scheme has begun for workplaces to register their staff Christmas party to go in the draw for free $10 taxi vouchers.
Orange Mayor Cr Reg Kidd said the intervention strategy was to assist employers meet their work health and safety obligations to get their staff home safely when alcohol has been served.
"I'm sure everyone is looking forward to celebrating at their work Christmas Party this year," Cr Reg Kidd said. "This taxi voucher scheme is a great way to make sure we celebrate safely."
Road Safety Officer Andrea Hamilton-Vaughan says drink-driving could also affect a driver's car insurance.
"If a driver fails a random breath test and has been involved in a crash regardless of whether it is deemed to be the driver's fault or not the vehicle's insurance is null and void," Ms Hamilton Vaughan said.
"Every single glass of alcohol affects your driving, it reduces the ability to judge speed and distance, gives the driver a false sense of confidence and there's an increased tendency to take risks with reduce coordination and concentration.
"Crash data provided by the Centre of Road Safety supports this with some disturbing data for the Orange LGA. It points to the added danger of drink-driving, even when a driver is under the legal limit.
"Between 2016 and 2020 there were 7 fatalities and 353 injury crashes in Orange in which the driver had been drinking alcohol but registered a legal blood-alcohol-concentration.
"The statistics are extremely alarming and are a wake up call for all who head out on the road over the festive season.
Businesses can register online .
