A Chatham-Kent designated driving service is celebrating a successful holiday season of keeping nearly 1,600 potential impaired drivers off the road.
Home James, a free program that drives impaired patrons home during the Christmas holidays, recently wrapped up its 2019 season. Despite some initial difficulties attracting volunteers and the risk of the program being cancelled, Program Coordinator Jodie Hogg said they were able to pull through and get enough people to come together and make it happen.
"It was really good... we ended up with 94 volunteers this year which is good," she said.
Hogg said 94 volunteers is on par with what they usually get, however, she said the program saw a lot of new volunteers in 2019. Hogg said the increase of first-timers is good news and means the word is getting out.
"They had signed up for one night and then they ended up coming out quite a few nights which is what usually happens, which is great. It's never the same story from everybody. It's a lot of fun," said Hogg.
From November 22 to December 31, Hogg said Home James gave a total of 526 rides, bringing 1,591 people home safe and across a total of 16,180 kilometres.
According to Hogg, volunteers faced some unfavourable road conditions on New Year's Eve, but it proved to be one of the most popular nights for the service with 96 rides given.
"It was actually down from last year but it was one of our busiest nights," she said. "It always is."
Although the service is free to use, donations are accepted with all money raised going towards Chatham-Kent community youth programs. Hogg said donation totals will be revealed at a later date during a wrap-up party.
The program has been in operation since 2012 and Hogg said the intent is to have it run again for the 2020 holiday season with a call for volunteers going out in the fall. In the meantime, she's thanking all the people who donated their time and all the people who utilized the service.
"I just want thank everybody, especially the volunteers that did come out to help keep our roads safe," she said.
