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F1 drivers back anti-drink driving push
Formula One stars took part in a major anti-drink driving campaign spearheaded by whisky brand Johnnie Walker during the weekend’s British Grand Prix.
Copyright: Steven Tee/LAT Photographic.
Drivers Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso, McLaren chairman & CEO Ron Dennis, and racing director Eric Boullier all added their names to the initiative, which saw the McLaren Honda car feature these signatures on its side, alongside the campaign’s #JOINTHEPACT and the UK department for transport’s #THINK! logos.
With the British Grand Prix attracting over 80 million viewers from around the world, in addition to the 300,000 spectators at Silverstone itself, the move marked a major step towards an ambition to collect five million commitments from the public never to drink and drive. So far Johnnie Walker has already raised almost 2.5m signatures towards this effort, boosted by a push at last year’s Ryder Cup.
To support its message, Johnnie Walker teamed up with Uber for the weekend to offer rides for UK first time users of the taxi service who used the code JOINTHEPACT when booking their car.
Road Safety Minister Andrew Jones emphasised the importance of this campaign’s message, saying: “Drivers know that drink-driving is a dangerous offence which can ruin lives. However there are still some who put themselves and other road users at risk by getting behind the wheel when they know they shouldn’t.
“That is why we are calling on drivers to make sure they don’t risk their safety and the safety of others by drink-driving this summer.”
Button added his own endorsement, commenting: “Driving safely at any speed means every driver has to be fully in control at all times, something you can’t do if you drink. Racing drivers like to be fast but we also want to be safe.”
Meanwhile, Andrew Cowan, country director for Diageo GB, Johnnie Walker’s parent company, said: “We want to give a strong message to the public to never drink and drive, and can’t think of a more powerful way to do so than to partner with the government and Formula 1 stars to deliver this message with one voice.”