MADD Canada, emergency personnel and Town of St. Paul council members combined forces to launch the annual Red Ribbon campaign last Tuesday with a focus on keeping the sober driving message top of mind throughout the holiday season.
"Every year impaired driving crashes kill hundreds and injures thousands of Canadians," Dianne Belanger, MADD Canada's St. Paul and area community leader, said at the launch event. "These crashes are 100 per cent preventable, it is as simple as planning ahead. It is never OK to drive impaired."
"Throughout the campaign, MADD Canada volunteers in communities across Canada distribute millions of red ribbons and red ribbon car decals for the public to use as a symbol of their commitment to always drive sober. The ribbons also serve as a powerful tribute to the thousands of Canadians killed and injured in crashes involving alcohol and/or drugs each year," states a media release launching the national campaign.
"While great strides have been made over the years to reduce impaired driving, it continues to be a deadly problem on Canada’s roads. Continued awareness efforts are crucial, especially now that cannabis is legal."
Local RCMP Cst. Stephen Cunningham said his hope is that people don't get behind the wheel impaired, but he's been on the job long enough to know that for some the message hasn't been received.
"What puzzles me is that they will drive home impaired rather than walk the block to their home. Even with everything that's been done in this day and age with the awareness campaigns, it doesn't seem some people get it."
He said local RCMP will be conducting checkstops throughout the holiday season and encourages people to make the smart decision and not get behind the wheel. He suggests those that think they can fool RCMP drug recognition experts should think again. Standard field sobriety tests along with specialized training have provided officers with the tools needed to identify impairment by either alcohol or drugs.
Cunningham also encourages people who suspect an impaired driver to call 911. Location, direction the vehicle is heading, a description of the vehicle and a license plate number if possible, along with a callback number are all helpful in preventing a potential deadly situation.
In 2017, Cunningham was awarded the Cpl. Cumming's Watch Award and received a certificate of recognition for charging between 15 and 24 impaired drivers during a calendar year. The program is named after Cpl. Graeme Cumming, a member of the RCMP who was killed on duty by an impaired driver while attending a traffic incident on Highway 3 near Lethbridge, on Aug. 12, 1998.
"We are out there in full force," Cunningham said. "My hope is that we have no fatalities on our Alberta roads this holiday season."
Ara paramedic Harley Peterson with Medavie Health Services West said the Red Ribbon campaign is an important tool to bring awareness to the fact that impaired driving has to be stopped.
"Being a member of EMS, I see a lot of horrible things due to impaired driving. This campaign is vital in cooperation with first responders to stop impaired driving. We full endorse this program and the work being done to address the issue."
The ribbons and decals are available at a number of outlets around the community, Belanger said. While the ribbons are free, donation boxes at these sites are collecting funds so the local MADD chapter can purchase a set of impaired vision goggles that simulate impaired vision and be used for education and awareness.
