Overview
According to the police, the Friday before Christmas is one of the worst days of the year for drink-driving. To help ensure people get home safely after they finish work on Friday, 21 December, Auckland Transport is making travel on all buses and trains free from 4pm.
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.
From 4pm until the end of service the gate at Auckland train stations will be opened, and the tagging machines will be turned off on all buses. 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 has come 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.
For more information, visit at.govt.nz/homefree.
Image: Auckland Council.