Mothers Against Drunk Driving Windsor and Essex County have launched the annual Red Ribbon Campaign to prevent impaired driving.
The annual reminder to promote sober driving throughout the upcoming holiday season began Thursday with a major kickoff at Catholic Central High School in Windsor. The event was attended by representatives from the Windsor, LaSalle and Amherstburg police services, as well as fire, EMS, and representatives from the program's sponsors.
“This is a great opportunity to educate hundreds of students about the dangers and consequences of impaired driving,” said MADD Windsor and Essex County Community Leader Chaouki Hamka. “Young drivers are over-represented in road crashes for two primary reasons; inexperience and immaturity.
"Although young people are the least likely to drive impaired, the ones who do are at very high risk of collision,” said Hamka.
Windsor police Staff Sergeant Sean Bender said it's vital that this important information is discussed with students.
"We recognize that to get the message out, we've got to hit the youth and this is where it starts," said Bender. "It affects them more. There's more distractions for them now. The speed of life is so fast, and then you throw in impaired by drugs or alcohol, and it just makes things more difficult."
The local MADD chapter is asking residents of Windsor-Essex to tie a MADD Canada red ribbon to their vehicles, key chains, purses, briefcases and backpacks.
The red ribbon represents a person’s commitment to drive sober during the holiday season, and reminds other drivers to always drive sober as well. The sober driving message has special meaning this year because it is the first holiday season following the legalization of cannabis.
Bender said the legalization of cannabis adds a new dimension to the fight against impaired driving, but the message is still the same.
"We're in for cultural change with the legalization of cannabis, we know that," said Bender. "But it should not. That's why it's important that we mentioned it today, to get that message out about cannabis...and the effects on the human body are the same."
The campaign ends January 7.
Red ribbons and car decals are available from MADD Windsor and Essex County by calling (519) 791-9623, by emailing maddwin@yahoo.ca, by visiting the MADD Canada website at www.madd.ca, and at local police headquarters.
-With files from Mark Brown