B9

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD Canada) has begun its annual, national public awareness Project Red Ribbon campaign for sober driving through the holiday season with a plea to Canadians to get involved by phoning 911 when they see a suspected impaired driver.

Margaret Miller, MADD Canada's National President, urged the public to take action in two meaningful ways. "We would like to see Canadians get involved in the fight against impaired driving. Call 911 if you see a suspected impaired driver and report the incident to the police. In this way the immediate danger of an impaired driving crash can be removed from the road." Miller adds, "You never know, by phoning 911 you may be saving a life."

"We would also like Canadians to make a personal pledge to drive sober and display a red ribbon on their vehicle or their car keys, purse, backpack or other personal item to reinforce the important message not to drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs," she said.

The MADD Canada ribbon has become a familiar symbol of safe and sober driving throughout Canada. The annual ribbon campaign is one of the most visible public awareness drives against impaired driving during the Christmas and New Year's holiday season.

Millions of red ribbons are distributed across the country by MADD Canada volunteers with the hope of effectively delivering their sober driving message during the busiest social time of the year.

The 2008 Project Red Ribbon awareness campaign features Nova Scotia police officer Bruce Miller, who lost his life in an impaired driving crash. The campaign has MADD Canada's National President telling her family's story and urging Canadians "If you're impaired by alcohol or drugs, don't drive."

To view Margaret Miller's story, visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUXYsoSF2iY

"By displaying the MADD Canada red ribbon, you make a personal commitment to drive sober," explains Miller. "The red ribbon is a tribute to honour those who have been killed or injured in impaired driving crashes. It serves as a constant message to people on the roads to drive safe and sober."

"We also want the red ribbon to serve as a reminder to call 911 and take action to ensure our roads are safe," says Miller.

There will be over 100 local Chapters and Community Leaders of Mothers Against Drunk Driving across Canada participating in the campaign. The National President says, "MADD Canada volunteers across the country will be in malls, with police at their roadside spot checks, in parades and at public events, raising the awareness on the dangers of impaired driving. Our volunteers and corporate sponsors will distribute literally millions of red ribbons over the next few months."

The Red Ribbon and Leadership in the Fight Against Impaired Driving

MADD Canada's Project Red Ribbon campaign is supported by community partners such as local law enforcement and emergency medical service organizations as well as national, provincial, regional and local corporations.

Sponsorship for the campaign has grown over the decades. For a full list of 2008 Project Red Ribbon corporate sponsors and red ribbon distributors, visit the MADD Canada website.

Impaired driving remains Canada's number one criminal cause of death. On average, each and every day, four Canadians are killed and another 196 Canadians are injured in alcohol and drug-related crashes. More than 70,000 Canadian men, women and children are killed or serious injured in impaired driving crashes annually. MADD Canada's volunteers and supporters are intent on altering these unacceptable statistics.

Visit the MADD Canada 2008 Project Red Ribbon webpages to learn how you can get a red ribbon and help keep Canadian roads safe from impaired driving crashes.

Visit the MADD Canada Campaign 911 webpages to learn more about the organization's efforts in raising the awareness of Canadians' collective role in stopping impaired driving crashes from occurring.