By Sarah Rae

Operation Red Nose to help get impaired drivers off the streets for another year

Nov 17, 2016 | 9:28 AM

Drivers will soon have another option to get home after having a couple of drinks with the launch of this year’s Operation Red Nose.

Chair Bill Bowman said the program is a great alternative for drivers to get home safe and the Battlefords community has embraced it.

“I see nothing wrong with going out and having a pleasant evening with your partner, but also would like to see them get home safe and not run the risk of hurting themselves or other people,” he said. “I think it’s very important.”

Drivers can call Operation Red Nose for a ride home starting Nov. 25 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. A team of three volunteers will pick the driver up, then two people will drive them home in their own car while another follows to pick the volunteers up.

Bowman said he hopes stricter impaired driving laws, though not in effect until January, might influence more people in Saskatchewan to choose a safe option like Operation Red Nose to get home over the holiday season.

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In 2015, there were 37 volunteers in the Battlefords who provided 224 rides. The program raised $5,006 through driving donations and another $8,720 from corporate sponsors, which was donated to KidSport Battlefords.

David Schell, co-chair of KidSport Battlefords, said Operation Red Nose is their biggest fundraiser of the year and the money raised goes a long way for the organization.

“When I think of a kid not being able to play a sport when he or she really wants to play a sport, it’s heartbreaking,” he said.

Schell said there’s a lot of support from corporations for Operation Red Nose, and clients being driven home are always eager to donate. He said the program is a win-win, because there are less impaired drivers and donations go to a great cause that helps the community.

Sarah Rae is battlefordsNOW’s court and crime reporter. She can be reached at Sarah.Rae@jpbg.ca or tweet her @sarahjeanrae.

by Sarah Rae

Operation Red Nose to help get impaired drivers off the streets for another year

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