27 years ago MADD Canada started a seasonal awareness campaign to get people thinking about safe and sober driving.
That campaign, called Project Red Ribbon, targets the Christmas and New Year holiday season because it is traditionally the busiest time of year for social gatherings, and therefore, for impaired driving.
Last year a million red ribbons were handed out to tie onto cars. These ribbons symbolize those lost to impaired driving accidents and those injured, their lives forever changed, says Katryna Sigurdson of MADD Kimberley/Cranbrook.
“With the upcoming holidays, we want to remind people to never drive while impaired,” Sigurdson said. “Don’t take a drive with an impaired driver; plan a taxi, get a designated driver.
“If you see an impaired driver, pull over, call 911 and give them as much information as possible.
Sigurdson was at city hall this week handing out red ribbons to launch the campaign. As part of Project Red Ribbon, MADD has requested that all city vehicles have red ribbons tied on from November 1 to January 1.
“I would like to thank the City, the RCMP, the Fire Department and Ambulance Services for their support