According to the police, the Friday before Christmas is one of the worst days of the year for drink driving. Following the success of last year's Home Free initiative — and following a rough few weeks for public transport across the city — Auckland Transport is making travel on buses, trains and some ferries free from 4pm on Friday, 20 December.
The council-controlled organisation is working with police to reduce drink-driving and one key initiative is to provide free public transport so that people across Auckland can have a celebratory holiday season drink and have no need to get behind the wheel.
AT is asking for customers tag on and off at stations and on buses to give more precise numbers on how many people used transport on the night. If your journey starts before 4pm but finishes after 4pm, this trip will not be free. But all trips starting after 4pm will be free.
AT's Group Manager Metro Service Delivery Stacey Van Der Putten says this initiative came about after the police asked AT how they could work with them to get more people on public transport, which will reduce the potential for drink-driving. She adds that, "Home Free was so successful last year, it made complete sense to bring it back."
For more information, visit at.govt.nz.
Image: Auckland Council.