SAFE TRANSPORT POLICY
OLINDA FERNY CREEK
FOOTBALL NETBALL CLUB
2018
PURPOSE
1. This policy outlines our procedures for safe transport after club games, special events, functions and other club-related activities where alcohol may be consumed. It represents our club’s commitment to its members, volunteers and visitors, acknowledging the role that sporting clubs and associations play in building strong and healthy communities.
2. This policy will help to ensure our club:-
- meets its duty of care in relation to the health and safety of our members, volunteers and visitors who attend any club games, special events, functions and other activities;
- upholds the reputation of our club, our sponsors and partners;
- understands the risks associated with alcohol use and driving, and our role in minimising risk;
- educates our members about standard drinks.
RATIONALE
3. An important part of being a responsible, healthy club is ensuring members, visitors and guests safely get to and from club games, activities and events.
4. Olinda Ferny Creek Football Netball Club (OFCFNC) wishes to avoid members becoming intoxicated while participating in club related activities. We fully support the exercise of our club’s duty of care in encouraging our members to plan safe transport options to get home. This will reduce the risk of drink-driving, injury or worse. We also note the recommendation of the National Health and Medical Research Council to consume no more than four drinks in one sitting.
5. Alcohol and drugs affect pedestrians and drivers’ abilities to stay safe. They affect decision-making, reaction times, speed and distance judgements, concentration, balance, perception and alertness. It can also increase risk-taking behaviour by giving a pedestrian or driver a false sense of confidence.
6. Sporting clubs such as ours help prevent drink driving related tragedies in the community by improving safety around transport options, and minimizing the risk of developing a drinking culture.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
7. Our clubrecognises that:-
- drink driving is one of the main causes of road deaths in Australia;
- driving when over the legal blood alcohol limit is illegal, and hazardous to individuals and the wider community;
- mixing drugs (including prescription medication) with other drugs or alcohol can seriously affect a person’s ability to drive safely.
TRANSPORT FOR CLUB ACTIVITIES
8. This safe transport policy applies to all activities undertaken by the club that involve the serving and/or consumption of alcohol.
9. Our club will:-
- promote strategies that encourage members to plan how they’ll get home safely before they go out e.g. pre-arranged transport;
- prominently market - on social media and hardcopy fliers - safe transport messages relevant to club and event invitations;
- ensure the MC for events - and club committee members - formally and informally advise attendees that our club is a Good Sports accredited club, communicate the safe transport options message, and regularly remind attendees to behave responsibly around alcohol;
- ensure telephone calls can be made free of charge to summon a sober person to provide transport from the club or venue.
10. Where available, our club will also consider:-
- use of a club or community bus (such as council, school or tourist buses) and:
- the bus or transport provided will be an alcohol-free zone (i.e. no alcohol will be permitted on the bus);
- the bus will not be used to transport members between licensed venues;
- people who have consumed alcohol can get home safely from the bus drop off point.
- use a range of taxi or ride share strategies such as:-
- free telephone calls to arrange a taxi to provide transport from the club or venue;
- facilitate the pre-ordering of taxis to arrive at a club or venue at the conclusion of a club event or function;
- encourage club members to utilise ride share services.
CLUB EVENTS OR FUNCTIONS
11. Our club will promote low alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks as options that will be available at reduced prices.
Bar staff/ servers of alcohol will encourage members, volunteers and visitors to:-
- consume food while drinking alcohol at the club;
- consume alcohol in moderation, bearing in mind our commitment to the Good Sports program, its philosophies and policies;
- make alternate safe transport arrangements for any member or guest who is considered to be intoxicated, or at risk of exceeding the legal limit (e.g. free call to a taxi/friend/family).
EXPECTATIONS OF CONDUCT
12. While engaging in club activities, members, volunteers and visitors will:-
- accept responsibility for their own behaviour, use good judgment, and take a responsible approach towards alcohol consumption;
- encourage and assist others to use good judgment regarding alcohol consumption;
- make alternative transport arrangements to get to and from the activity safely;
- share a taxi or ride share (where available) with friends;
- consider arranging overnight accommodation.
PROMOTING THIS POLICY
13. Our club will:
- educate members, volunteers and guests about our policy and the benefits of having such a policy;
- implement strategies to create awareness of safe transport messages to club members (e.g. display standard drink posters/cards to help patrons recognise what standard drinks are/ the implications on drink driving);
- ensure this policy is easily accessible and promote it via our website, newsletters, social media, and announcements during events and functions.
POLICY REVIEW
14. This policy will be reviewed annually to ensure it remains relevant to club operations, and reflects both community expectations and legal requirements.
Next policy review date is August, 2019
ENQUIRIES REGARDING OUR POLICY:
CONTACT: Mick Beattie (Committee)
PHONE: 0408 107376
