Nez Rouge Zug: "We bring everyone home safely"

Most people spend the evenings around Christmas and New Year's Eve with family and friends. Not so Stephan Strub: four years ago, he joined the Nez Rouge initiative as a driver. From the end of November to the end of the year, he brings home motorists who no longer feel fit to drive in the evening. "This is a useful kind of charity and I enjoy it," says Strub.

As a single father, however, he didn’t always have the time to be available as a driver evening after evening. Strub's son is now 19 years old, however, and spends Christmas with his mother. Working on the holidays doesn't bother the 43-year-old, who operates a massage studio in Oberägeri. "I like driving, and the initiative makes sense as an accident prevention measure," says Strub, who is also on the board of the Zug-Innerschwyz section.

In his four years with Nez Rouge, Stephan Strub has already completed more than 100 rides and has experienced a lot. Most customers are very grateful for the service, and there are lively conversations in which one also learns a lot of personal information. "Sometimes you're lucky. Last Saturday, I was able to drive a car with 700 hp, but that’s not something you do every day." On another occasion, a man wanted to put his car in the garage himself after he had been driven home. "As an exception, we let him do this, because we thought nothing could happen in those five metres. Unfortunately, he then hit the corner of the house," Strub recalls. But more serious incidents are the exception, and he’s only experienced a few who were really drunk.

Stephan Strub has been working for Nez Rouge for four years. A meaningful action, as he finds.

"Most of them have drunk too much to drive themselves. That's why we’re needed”

Stephan Strub also emphasizes that the service is not only intended for people who have drunk too much, however, but also for anyone who feels unfit to drive. "You can also call us if you are tired, or just does not feel well."

The Nez Rouge initiative could not be carried out without the help of many volunteers, however. Drivers, telephone operators and attendants are sought every year – and people can still register for the current initiative, emphasizes Stephan Strub.

The committed driver from Oberägeri has already chauffeured a colourful mix of people: from 20-year-old party goers to seasoned businessman: "We bring everyone safely home, no matter where." The different sections of Nez Rouge work closely together and ensure that customers are also driven home beyond the borders of the canton. One night, he had to drive to the same party five times to pick up people and bring them home safely, says the native of Basel, who has been living in the canton of Zug for 13.5 years.

Through his work at the FC Ägeri, Baar and Kriens, Strub is no stranger to the region. There are also always people who use Nez Rouge several times. "It’s always nice to see a familiar face." In addition, the volunteer team of Nez Rouge Zug is half a family. Stephan Strub is therefore not alone during the holidays.