MADD launches campaign to get its message out

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With the holiday season fast approaching, festive spirits will no doubt be flowing. With that in mind, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has launched its Project Red Ribbon campaign, which will run from Nov. 1 to Jan. 3.

MADD is asking drivers to "Tie One on for Safety" by attaching a red ribbon onto a visible location on their vehicle to remind other drivers to drive sober. A red ribbon honours those injured or killed in accidents caused by people who drove while impaired.

"Most important, by flying the MADD Canada red ribbon, you make a personal commitment to drive sober," said MADD Canada's president, Karen Dunham.

According to Dunham, you can expect to see MADD supporters handing out red ribbons in malls, with police at check stops and at special events. Dunham estimates that volunteers and corporate sponsors will distribute more than four million red ribbons across Canada throughout the holiday season.

The Central Saskatchewan chapter of MADD launched this year's campaign at the Saskatoon Blades hockey game on Nov. 13. Red ribbons are available in businesses throughout Saskatchewan, including from stores, insurance companies and Mac's convenience stores.

The good news is that in the past 20 years, more Canadians have wisened up to the detriments of drinking and driving. According to Saskatchewan Government Insurance, the number of collisions in Canada involving alcohol was 3,138 in 1984. Figures for last year show a dramatic drop, with 1,176 collisions in which alcohol was a contributing factor.

The number of deaths linked to alcohol-related crashes is also down. In 1984, 1,762 people died in Canada as a result of collisions involving impaired drivers. The number in 2003 was 816.

While the numbers show an improvement, drinking and driving is still killing people. In Saskatchewan, alcohol is the number one contributor to fatal vehicle accidents-39 per cent of all fatal collisions in the province are alcohol related.

A blood alcohol content, or BAC, of .08 is no longer the 'magic' number. In Saskatchewan, you can lose your license for 24 hours if you have a BAC of .04. If you are caught drinking and driving with a BAC of .08, you will lose your license for one to five years.

Last February, the Central Saskatchewan chapter of MADD conducted their own blood alcohol content experiment with local media celebrities. Participants were surprised by the amount of alcohol they could drink before reaching the legal limit of .08. Many felt that they were too drunk to drive much earlier, some as early as .03.

In addition to its annual red ribbon campaign, MADD Canada has also launched a new multi-media assembly show for high school students.

The show, called Illusions, includes interviews from skateboard legend Tony Hawk and Toronto Maple Leaf Tie Domi. The show will be touring schools across Canada until April.

"Just as the side-view mirror on a car makes objects look farther away, so teenagers can have inaccurate perceptions or false impressions that lead to high-risk behaviours and deadly consequences," said Wanda Kristensen of MADD Canada. "Illusion encourages youth to take a close look at their values and perceptions. It exposes common harmful beliefs amongst teenagers."

Regina Police cracking down on drinking and driving

During the month of December, the Regina Police Service has set its sights on catching impaired drivers.

The department works year- round to detect drivers who are impaired but is giving its increased attention to the problem over the holiday season. Police will be setting up check stops under the Enforcement Overdrive program, a joint program between the department and Saskatchewan Government Insurance that allows police to operate check stops year-round. Regina Police will also be paying extra attention in areas where alcohol is likely to be consumed, such as bars, restaurants and special events.

The Regina police would like to remind motorists tha, although the legal blood alcohol limit may be under .08, a person can still be charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle even with a lower blood alcohol reading if their ability to operate a motor vehicle has been impaired. Charges can also be laid if a person refuses to provide a breath sample.

The department urges anyone taking part in events where alcohol may be consumed to plan ahead-appoint a designated driver or plan to use an alternate means of transportation, such as a taxi or public transit.

Regina Police Servce is clear about the message it wants to send to drivers this holiday season-keep the streets safe for Regina residents. If you drink, don't drive.