It's that time of year again - a time for Grey Cup parties, Christmas parties and the like. It's also a time when local law enforcement step-up their enforcement of drinking and driving laws.
We may tend to think that with the increased awareness, fines and jail time, the incidences of drinking and driving would be decreasing, but this is far from true. Alcohol use continues to be a dominant contributing factor in casualty collisions in Saskatchewan, especially over the last three years. Though we had seen a long-term decreasing trend in the number of alcohol-related casualty collisions in the province, there has been a reversal of this downward trend since 2006. In 2008, alcohol was a factor in 63 fatal collisions on Saskatchewan roads, which is a 46.5 percent increase from the previous three-year average of 43 collisions.
Obviously, we must all be responsible for our own actions, even when we are intoxicated. A person must put plans into place before their judgement gets clouded, such as starting your evening out on a full stomach and planning for a safe ride home. The experts say that if you aren't sure whether you're impaired, you probably are. Alcohol impairs even that basic judgment.
We must also be aware of our companion's state. Don't be a "passive passenger" - refuse a ride with a driver who has had too much to drink. And if you are hosting a party, provide non-alcoholic beverages for your guests, especially near the end of the evening. No one likes to be harped at, but the old adage is true, "friends don't let friends drive drunk."
One solution to holiday drinking and driving is SGI's Operation Red Nose, which is back in Saskatchewan for its second year. The program offers a safe ride home service, in one's own vehicle, provided during the holiday season to motorists who do not feel fit to drive.
This free service is provided by a volunteer force of drivers, often doing so in order to receive donations to their particular cause from motorists using the service. Unfortunately, the only place in the province that has taken on this initiative is The Battlefords.
In North Battleford, the Lions Club and the Boys and Girls Club, local host organizations for Operation Red Nose, will receive any donations garnered to help support local youth programs.
Any community can take on this initiative; all it takes is a dedicated group of volunteers. Members may only have to volunteer one evening of the season if enough help is gathered, and that one evening could save the life of someone in our community.
