Halford in hot water

Halfords have been in a bit of hot water lately after they were found to be selling key rings which could e construed to be encouraging drink driving.

The novel stocking fillers have are being sold in several stores throughout the UK. Made to look like a miniature license plate, some of the messages include, “'M1NE5 A P1NT' and 'W4STED'’. Most are not given a second glance and only an occasional chuckle.
However, road charities such as Brake have deemed the selling of such items in a shop that is supposed to promote road safety as ‘making light of a serious problem.’
Ellen Booth, senior campaign manager at Brake was quoted saying, “'A combination of age and inexperience, means that young drivers are hugely overrepresented in road crashes. 'That’s why it’s so important that we send out the right messages to young drivers - that risk taking on roads is deadly serious.’

Both the general public and road traffic safety campaigners have been shocked by Halfords willingness to sell such items knowing that in 2011 alone, there were 230 fatalities due to drink driving.

One member of the public was quoted saying,” 'I couldn’t believe it,' she said. 'I can’t believe a responsible company would be so stupid as to encourage this kind of behaviour.
'Don’t they know how many people die every year because of drink driving?''

A spokesperson from Halfords was recorded saying, “'We take the issues of road safety and drink driving very seriously. Our consistent and strong advice to motorists is not to drink and drive. The keyrings are popular with our customers who see them as a fun item and the slogans are not meant to encourage irresponsible driving at all. We do take on board this feedback and will review the range, removing any items that fall short of acceptable standards.”

But what do young drivers think? Are they likely to be swayed into consuming alcohol and driving due to a message on a key ring? What do you think?

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