Posted on Behalf of Quinte Region Traffic Coalition.
Hastings and Prince Edward Counties (December 10, 2019) – If your holiday festivities include alcohol or cannabis, protect yourself and your loved ones by planning ahead for a safe ride home.
The Quinte Region Traffic Coalition (QRTC) gathered today to launch their annual Festive R.I.D.E. initiative and to bring awareness to the #HomeSafeForTheHolidays campaign, which was launched at the end of November.
This campaign includes a series of short videos that aim to dispel myths about impaired driving and educate about the importance of planning for a safe ride home. The videos are being posted on the Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) Facebook and Twitter accounts each week during the holidays. The QRTC is asking the public to help spread the messages by sharing, liking and re-tweeting the posts.
“We will be conducting Festive R.I.D.E. checks throughout the holiday season to remind all drivers and passengers of the importance of driving sober,” says Staff Sergeant John Hatch of Prince Edward County OPP. “Impaired driving is completely preventable, and there are simple steps people can take to avoid impaired driving over the holidays and all year long.”
The QRTC offers these tips to stay safe this holiday season:
- If you are planning to drink alcohol or use cannabis, don’t drive.
- Take public transit, call a cab, have a designated driver, use a program such as Operation Red Nose, or plan to stay overnight.
- Talk with your loved ones about ways they can get home safe.
- For everyone’s safety, passengers should speak up if their driver has been drinking or using cannabis.
- If a guest is impaired, ask for their car keys, invite them to stay overnight, or make arrangements for them to get home safe.
- If you suspect a driver is impaired, call 911.
Residents should be prepared to see R.I.D.E. programs taking place anytime and anywhere including major roadways, rural back roads and off-road trails. Impaired driving is not worth the risk. For more information, visit www.ontario.ca/drivesober.
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About the QRTC
The Quinte Region Traffic Coalition is a partnership of Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, Belleville Police Service, OPP SAVE Team, East Region Highway Safety Division and the Bancroft, Central Hastings, Lennox and Addington County, Prince Edward County, and Quinte West OPP Detachments. The QRTC aims to reduce the number of incidents resulting in injuries and deaths on roads, trails, and waterways in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties.
For more information, contact:
Staff Sergeant John Hatch
Prince Edward County OPP
QRTC Media Spokesperson
613-476-2151
