Watch: Shrewsbury Mayor takes on beer goggles test with a serious message
It was one of his stranger public engagements, but the Mayor of Shrewsbury donned a pair of "beer goggles" as part of a safety campaign at the town's railway station.
Councillor Peter Nutting was invited to try his hand at using the town's station whilst “intoxicated” as part of an initiative between Network Rail, Transport for Wales and British Transport Police.
Wearing specially designed educational beer goggles, Councillor Nutting was challenged to find his way to the ticket machine, buy his ticket, use the barriers and find his way to the right platform.
The goggles create a disorientated feeling blurring vision and distorting perception.
“You’d have no chance,” said Councillor Nutting after several unsuccessful attempts to buy a ticket to Church Stretton.
“Everything is in double or treble vision. It really brings it home how difficult and dangerous a station can be if you’ve had a few drinks.
"You often hear of people falling onto the tracks or bumping into things and this show how easy that is to do if you’re drunk.
"We want people to go out and have a good time but the most important thing is to get home safe.”
After finally getting his ticket, Councillor Nutting braved the stairs to the platforms, holding the handrail as he slowly made his way to the top.
He then tried to negotiate his way past passenger information signs before struggling to make out where his train was due to leave from.
Transport for Wales security manager Simon Turton said: “It was great to get the mayor along to show just how difficult it can be using a station when you’ve had a few too many. We’re reminding people just to take that extra bit of care while they’re out over the festive period.”
Phil Lucas, local operations manager for Network Rail in Wales and Borders, said: “We want everyone to have fun and enjoy themselves over the festive period, but after a few drinks people often take greater risks, which can frequently, lead to people getting hurt or even killed.
“Travelling home by train is absolutely the safest way. But we have seen drunk people taking a short cut across the tracks, chancing it at level crossings or falling between a train and the platforms. Even escalators see more drink-fuelled accidents.
"Be a ‘First Class Mate’ and look out for those making their way home by train that may have had one too many.”
