As an incentive to lower those statistics, particularly during the festive season, Orange businesses are being invited to join Orange and Cabonne councils to encourage people to have a Plan B to get home from the annual work Christmas party.

As part of the campaign, employers can register their workplace Christmas party online. The first 10 businesses that register each week will receive five taxi vouchers, valued at $10 each, to pass on to their employees.

Orange and Cabonne road safety officer Andrea Hamilton-Vaughan said it was up to managers to take the initiative.

“They should think through the practicalities of making sure their staff get home safely after a work Christmas function,” she said.

“The message can be as simple as ‘if you’re celebrating and alcohol is involved, leave the car and make a taxi your Plan B’.

“If you value your driver’s licence, don’t drink and drive.”

Twelve Orange businesses have already gone online to register for free taxi vouchers.

Ms Hamilton-Vaughan said if a business missed out on being one of the first 10 to register each week, they would be put into a draw to receive a monetary reimbursement for part of the cost of their Christmas party.

In NSW, driving with a low-range blood alcohol reading can cost you $1100 dollars, with an automatic licence disqualification of six months.

If you blow mid-range you could be fined $2200, with an automatic disqualification of six to 12 months and the possibility of nine months  in jail, depending on the circumstances.

People caught driving high-range will be fined $3300, disqualified from driving for one to three years and possibly jailed for 18 months.

Business owners wishing to register their business should visit  www.orange.nsw.gov.au/ planb.

janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au