Ruth Foley has been on both ends of drink-driving tragedies, witnessing the heartbreak of families who've lost loved ones and working with those who've done the crime.
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She said as a NZ victim support co-ordinator, "words can't describe the feelings those families go through". When becoming a probation parole officer with ACT correction services, she decided to do her part to make Canberra roads safer.
The concept of Dial a Driver has been around for more than 30 years but it was only launched in the ACT three years ago in an effort to minimise drink-driving accidents. One driver takes people home in their own car while another driver follows.
Prices start at $25 for under two and a half kilometres, $35 for up to five kilometres, $50 for up to 7.5 kilometres and $60 for up to 10 kilometres.
Ms Foley acknowledged it's more expensive than a standard taxi fare, but said she must account for two drivers, double fuel, insurance and maintenance.
"We can lower our prices as demand grows, but we're a lot cheaper than going to court."
ACT police caught 1234 drink drivers through 147,552 random breath tests in 2014, and found 403 positive random roadside drug testsout of 2526.
While the number of RBTs deployed increased by over 50,000 between 2012 and 2014, there number of positive tests declined by around 1000.
Ms Foley believes alternative transport for intoxicated people is an urgent issue in the ACT.
"There is a niche market in Canberra of people who drive out in Canberra, think they are not going to have a drink and then they have one, two or several, and then drive home," she said.
It allows couples to enjoy a wine or two "and not have a tiff about who drives and who drinks."
She's not concerned of the imminent arrival of ride-sharing app Uber to Canberra, which she says will only be in competition with taxis.
Having dealt with more than 360 of drink-driving cases throughout her career, Ms Foley stresses the need for further early education around the effects of alcohol and how easily someone can be over.
She also claims "every time a vehicle has an accident, it costs $100,000 to replace that."
"If it hits a pole, You have the SES, the police, Actew AGL replacing the pole, a lot with taxpayers money, which could be better spent if people were thinking straight and being responsible."
While less RBTs tested positive in 2014 than in 2012, the number of positive drug tests increased throughout that period from 37 out of 1733 to to 403 out of 2526.
"Canberra's had nearly one accident every month this year, and something needs to be done," Ms Foley said.
