THUNDER BAY -- Ridding the streets of drunk drivers is worth 7,000 free hot chocolates or coffees, says an executive with Mac’s Convenience stores.
On Thursday the company helped local police agencies kick off the annual Festive Ride anti-impaired driving campaign on Arthur street, providing them with free hot-beverage coupons to hand out to sober drivers between now and the Jan. 2 end to the program.
Sean Sportun, the manager of security for the company in Central Ontario, said it’s all about giving back to the communities they serve.
“Anytime we can assist the police in encouraging community support in reinforcing good behaviour, it can only make the community stronger,” Sportun said.
Drunk driving, he added, is a scourge that must be stopped.
“When some is involved in a drinking and driving incident, it affects a lot of people, including the whole community. Anything we can do to help it from happening and support our local police services, Mac’s Conveniences Stores will take that responsibility on,” he said, noting Operation Heat is an extension of a summertime effort that saw them reward good behaviour in local youth with frozen beverage coupons.
OPP Const. Diana Cole said it’s a simple message they’re trying to get across.
“The message is don’t drink and drive,” she said. “We understand people are going to be enjoying festivities. There are going to be functions, office events that they’re going to be attending. We just ask people to have a designated driver, use a taxi, use public transit or stay the night if you have to. Call somebody for a ride if you have to, but please, don’t drink and drive.”
Unfortunately not everyone is listening.
In Ontario, about 17,000 people are convicted each year related to drinking and driving, according to figures provided by the Ministry of Transportation. Impaired drivers are also responsible for 25 per cent of all fatalities on Ontario roads.
The province in recent years has taken steps to stop drinking and driving, introducing in 2009 new regulations that include a three-day suspension for anyone caught driving with a blood-alcohol concentration measuring between 50 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliletres of blood and 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliletres of blood, the legal limit.
A second offence within five years merits a seven-day suspension and a trip to an alcohol education program, while a third offence earns a 30-day suspension and a six-month ignition interlock condition.
The problem just won’t go away, Cole said.
“It continues to be an issue. We still have officers who are stopping, arresting and charging impaired drivers. Some people have gotten the message, but there are still people who have not gotten the message yet, to not drink and drive,” she said.
“The life that they save may be their own when they’re not drinking and driving.”
In addition to the OPP, Thunder Bay Police Service, Crime Stoppers and Anishnawbek Police Service are taking part in Operation Heat.
