There is no choice when it comes to driving impaired, said OPP regional commander Ronald Van Straalen.
“You either make the right choice by calling Operation Red Nose, calling for a ride or the choice will be mine and it’ll be a one-way ride and you’ll be dealing with the courts,” he said Tuesday morning at the launch of the third annual Operation Red Nose program.
Red Nose will be back in operation this holiday season, making sure people get themselves and their cars home safely. Starting on Nov. 25, every Thursday, Friday and Saturday until Dec. 30, excluding Christmas Eve, people can call Operation Red Nose to ensure they get home safely.
When called, a team of three volunteers will arrive and drive you, in your car, home.
The program stops people from making the wrong decision by getting behind the wheel after drinking, said Van Straalen.
“Our officers deal with this stuff daily,” he said, adding it not only saves heartache in the wake of a tragedy, but also saves his officers from anguish and agony.
“Those men and women are there and they deal with the aftermath of what’s going on,” he said. “They’re only human to think that they’re not affected by this is a silly thing to think.”
Operation Red Nose provided 282 rides in 2009, its inaugural year, and 368 rides in 2010. Honourary chairman Ken Boshcoff said they hope to increase that number this year, but they need more volunteers.
The more groups, organizations and individuals that come forward, the more people they can get home safely.
“It’s been a great start,” Boshcoff said. “We’re very fortunate in seeing the rapid rise in community awareness over the past two-and-a-half, three years.”
The number of volunteers, donations, sponsors and people getting home safely has risen since the initiative first began.
“That’s really the goal and the fact that it’s working so well makes it a very gratifying term as honourary chair,” said Boshcoff, who ends his reign in the position after this year.
For a safe drive home, call Operation Red Nose on the corresponding days at 807-683-NOSE between the hours of 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.
