By Colton Swiderski

M.L. MADD chapter kicks off Red Ribbon Campaign

Nov 14, 2016 | 1:00 PM

Meadow Lake’s MADD chapter has kicked off their annual Red Ribbon Campaign.

A flag was raised in front of City Hall today, Nov. 14 to mark the beginning of the drinking and driving awareness initiative.

M.L.chapter president Nicole Munroe, who’s been involved in the campaign for over 10 years, said this year the slogan is “tie it, wear it, show it, share it.

“We always tell people we aren’t against drinking, we’re just against drinking and not having a sober ride home,” she said.

A remembrance walk is also being held tonight at Elks Park beginning at 7 p.m. to reminisce about anyone affected by drunk driving.

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In 2015, 53 people were killed and 578 injured in impaired driving crashes in Saskatchewan.

According to Earl Cameron, executive vice-president of the SGI auto fund, though people have good intentions, dropping alcohol into the mix hampers sound judgement.

“That’s why planning ahead is so important. Leaving your vehicle at home and finding an alternate way to an event decreases the temptation to drive home under the influence,” he said in a release.

As well, he said in the release if you have to convince yourself you’re sober enough to drive, you’re probably not. He called all drinking and driving deaths 100 per cent preventable.

“Think of the families of those whose lives have been lost and don’t risk causing another family the same pain. Leave your car at home and eliminate the risk completely,” he said.

In Saskatchewan, a blood alcohol content of over .04 is considered being impaired.

“Remember, the designated driver doesn’t mean the least impaired or most sober person, it means the completely sober person,” Cameron said. “If you do drive there and you drink more than planned, call a designated driving service to get you and your vehicle home safely.”

Starting at the beginning of Nov., Sask. RCMP are stepping up their drinking and driving enforcement by educating restaurant owners and increase roadside and establishment checks.

Colton Swiderski is meadowlakeNOW’s municipal affairs, crime and court, health and education reporter. He can be reached at cswiderski@jpbg.ca or tweet him @coltonswiderski.