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Saving lives on Sudbury roads: Safe Ride Home Sudbury campaign kicks off

Organization kicks off second year of getting Sudburians home safe

Safe Ride Home Sudbury launched their winter 2018 campaign on Nov. 14 with the help of some friends.

Greater Sudbury Police Services and Tim Hortons have partnered with Safe Ride Home Sudbury for the winter and members of the GSPS were out conducting a RIDE check stop on Regent Street near Edna Street on Wednesday evening.

Members of GSPS and Safe Ride Home Sudbury were handing out Tim Hortons gift cards to drivers who were driving safe and sober.

Wednesday marked the kick off to the second year that Safe Ride Home Sudbury will be helping to ensure Sudburians get home with their vehicles at the end of a night of partying during the holiday season.

"We want to make sure people are planning ahead and getting home safely this holiday season," said Lesli Green, president, Safe Ride Home Sudbury. "We've been in the community for 20 years, getting people home safe and sound."

The volunteer-run organization operates every Friday until the end of the year between the hours of 8 p.m. and 3 a.m. Volunteers operate in teams and will come to your location and drive you home in your own vehicle.

Safe Ride Home Sudbury needs roughly 75-100 volunteers on the nights that they're out on the roads.

"We absolutely always need more volunteers," said Green. "You can pick up a volunteer form at any Tim Hortons in Greater Sudbury."

Safe and sober driving is always a priority for Greater Sudbury Police Services, especially during the holiday season when people are out at parties and road conditions can be slippery and dangerous.

"I think it's of huge importance for us to partner with organizations like Safe Ride Home Sudbury," said GSPS Insp. Dan Despatie. "We give huge credit to Lesli and her team, this organization saves lives and we're really thankful to have them in the community."

Officers conducted a RIDE check stop on Nov. 14, and their official 2018 RIDE campaign kicks off on Nov. 28. This year's campaign presents an added element with marijuana legalization, and officers will be on the lookout for drivers who are behind the wheel under the influence of cannabis.

"We've prepared for this and officers have been given specialized training for spotting drivers who are impaired by marijuana or other drugs," said Despatie. "Years ago it was just drunk driving, but it's now all impaired driving, whether it's drugs or alcohol."

For more information about Safe Ride Home or to volunteer, refer to www.saferidehomesudbury.ca.


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