More efforts to prevent drink driving as demand for car-sharing services rev up in year-end festive period

SINGAPORE: Car-sharing companies are enjoying brisk business in Singapore this festive season.

Some firms in the sector are seeing up to a 60 per cent surge in demand from the same period last year.

However, as Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations get underway with more drivers on the road, these companies are also making greater efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of drink driving.

RISE IN DEMAND

Car-sharing firm GetGo has seen most of the 3,000 cars in its fleet booked up for the entire holiday season this year.

It had already doubled its fleet size from last year.

Co-founder Johnson Lim told CNA: “This period, we notice a lot of people (are renting cars), because they have gatherings with their families and because they have to prepare a lot of maybe meals or even gifts. 

“I think it's very convenient if they have extra storage spaces and also the flexibility of renting for a longer duration."

The company has revved up its operations for this peak period, hiring more employees to beef up its customer support team and to better maintain its fleet of cars.

It is also doing more to ensure that drivers observe road safety, and encouraging customers not to drink and drive amid the year-end hurrah.

"We do come up with educational content and on social media. However, I think the most important (platform) is probably in-app because I think that is where our users are using our service,” said Mr Lim.

“They will receive notifications or even in our in-app inbox, they will sometimes receive some information like how do you drive better or what should you be looking out for if you're driving."

SAFETY REMINDERS

Another car-sharing company Shariot told CNA that demand for its cars has also accelerated, with its year-end business up 20 per cent compared to last year.

It is banking heavily on visual reminders to educate drivers about road safety during this period.

“On our app itself, it will have a pop-up as the first thing that users will see. This will be a visual created to inform them to avoid drink driving, especially during this festive season,” the firm’s marketing executive Nurul Nabihah told CNA.

The app would also send notifications to users, with messages such as “Don’t drink and drive” to serve as reminders, she added.

Shariot is also looking to do more campaigns next year, to continue spreading more awareness on the topic.

Mr Dirk-Jan Ter Horst, co-founder of Drive Lah, told CNA: “Drink driving is something that we obviously do not allow on our platform.”

Drive Lah has also experienced a spike in demand this year, continuing its upward trend from previous years.

“Demand is high and we expect to rent out most of the cars available on the platform. It is best for people to book as early as possible to secure the car that is most suitable for their planned trip,” said Mr Ter Horst.

The firm’s business has climbed 60 per cent during the year-end period compared with the same period last year.

POLICE ADVISORY

Like the car-sharing companies, the Traffic Police (TP) is urging people not to drive if they plan to consume alcohol while taking part in festivities.

“While motorists are out enjoying themselves during the festive season, they are reminded not to drink and drive,” a spokesperson said in response to CNA queries.

“TP would also like to remind motorists that for the safety of all road users, motorists should refrain from driving to the venue if they intend to consume alcohol.”

The TP urged revellers to instead take a taxi or private hire vehicle, engage the services of a valet, or designate a sober friend or family member to send them home.