up to provide free sodas to designated drivers throughout the holiday season.

With Christmas around the corner, the person who offers to stay alcohol-free for the night out will be treated to "soft drinks on the house'' at 37 pubs and restaurants.

Minister of Transport, the Hon. Maxwell Burgess and Road Safety Council Chairman, Mr. George Morton Jr., yesterday launched the fifth annual Designated Driver Campaign with a message to all drivers.

A successful designated driver programme will reduce the incidence of impaired driving, traffic accidents and most importantly, save lives, they said.

Each designated driver wears a button which clearly identifies him or her to members to his or her group, hosts and servers. The driver is then served non-alcoholic beverages for the duration of the group's stay on the premises.

"This year the campaign is bigger and better than ever,'' Mr. Burgess said.

He added, "We have more than doubled the number of licensed establishments involved.'' Mr. Burgess said 29 bars/restaurants, six hotels and two catering companies are joining forces to serve soft drinks free of charge to anyone wearing a Road Safety Council designated driver button, who appears sober and is not consuming alcohol.

Mr. Burgess said, "We are extremely unhappy with the number of deaths witnessed on our roads. Now more than ever the Designated Driver Campaign must play a part in having a safe, death-free Christmas.

"We should be able to come out of Christmas incident free.'' The buttons are available at gas stations throughout the Island.

DESIGNATED DRIVER -- Minister of Transport the Hon. Maxwell Burgess (speaking), Bermuda Road Safety Council chairman Mr. George Morton Jr.

(middle), BF&M manager Mr. Glen Gibbons (left) and Mr. Ricky Hill of Colonial Insurance launch the programme.