Tie one on

BY NANCY KELLY

Kings County Register

The Annapolis Valley chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) joined community leaders and local law enforcement November 28 in Kingston to kick off its 13th annual Red Ribbon “Tie one on for Safety” campaign.

MADD Canada’s red ribbon, tied to a vehicle antenna or side mirror, is a visible symbol of a person’s commitment to drive safe and sober - not only during the holiday season, but all year long.

“The red ribbon also serves as a reminder to other motorists to drive sober,” said MADD’s Valley chapter president Angie McWaid. Recounting her own frightening experiences as a child at the hands of a drunk driver, McWaid implored the public to “do their part to curb drunk driving by making sure you or someone you know doesn’t drive drunk.”

Every day, on average, four Canadians are killed and 192 more are injured due to alcohol- and drug-related crashes. Kentville Police Chief Mark Mander said police are working with MADD to change these numbers, but admitted the only way “to significantly impact impaired driving is for the courts to impose sentencing based on a zero tolerance blood alcohol count (BAC).

“Right now, the message is it’s okay to have some alcohol in your system when you drive. That needs to change,” explained Mander. He said the courts and society in general need to recognize that driving while impaired “is not a social problem, it’s a crime.”

Kings RCMP Traffic Services Sgt. Richard Walkinshaw echoed Mander’s comments, and reflected on several alcohol-related traffic fatalities in the past few weeks. He implored parents “to know what your children are doing. That will help bring them home safely.”

Keynote speaker for the launch was Halifax MADD chapter member Anissa Aldridge, whose daughter was injured in a car crash with an impaired driver a year-and-a-half ago. She said every day since has been a struggle.

“I will never sleep peacefully when my girls are not with me, but MADD has given me the hope that things can change.”

She acknowledged MADD needs to keep the pressure on “so, one day, people will think it is inconceivable to get behind the wheel after drinking.”

Also at the launch, former Horton High student Michael Zwicker was presented with MADD’s national hero award‚ for alerting police about a drunk driver. Zwicker, who now attends St Mary’s University in Halifax, was working at the D&M Service Centre in Aldershot one evening about a year ago when a man “who was too drunk to pump gas, let alone drive,” pulled into the station. Zwicker did exactly what MADD and police are encouraging the public to do.

“He alerted police and provided the information that got that person off the road before he could do anyone any harm,” said MADD Canada national board representative Paul King in congratulating Zwicker.

He added MADD’s “Campaign 911” encourages people to contact police with licence plate and vehicle identification if they think someone is impaired.

“It is up to each of us to make a difference,” said King.

MADD’s Red Ribbon awareness campaign is taking place across Canada now until the end of first week of January.

Weblink: www.madd.ca