Taxi drivers in the southern English seaside town of Brighton will start handing out free condoms to frisky late-night passengers on Thursday as part of a sexual health drive, a contraceptives firm said.
The ”Safe Ride Home” scheme by Trojan will equip cabbies from the Brighton-based firm Radio Cabs with about 60 000 condoms to give to any passenger who asks.
”After a night out, many people find themselves in a position where they do not have condoms and often decide to take a risk,” said a spokesperson for condom manufacturers Trojan, which is owned by Church and Dwight.
”By making Trojan available en route to home, there is no excuse and the embarrassment factor of ‘have you got a condom’ is removed,” he said.
Anyone who requests protection from 10:30 pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays — typically the busiest nights of the week — will receive a black envelope containing two condoms and a leaflet on contraception.
Chris Nutley, co-owner of Radio Cabs, said the company picks up thousands of passengers, mostly young people socialising into the early hours.
”If we can help make a difference here in Brighton, we’re more than happy to help,” he said.
According to Trojan, one in nine people are believed to carry some kind of sexual infection.
Former boxing champion Chris Eubank is also backing the scheme. – Sapa-AFP