The launch of the 28th annual Red Ribbon campaign had a bit of a different focus this year.
While the message is still don't drink and drive, much of the conversation involved distracted driving and driving while under the influence of drugs.
Jason Fogg's 17-year-old sister, Jessie Johnson, died several years ago. Her body was found on a back road just outside of Fort Francis, 50 feet from her flipped over Volkswagen Beetle.
It was on a bright, sunny Saturday afternoon on a Thanksgiving weekend a few years ago, said Fogg, who moved to Sudbury two years ago and is a director with Action Sudbury. Jessie lived on a farm, and was driving herself to work on a quiet country road. She was late for work and driving a little too fast. She wasn't wearing a seatbelt, and the police investigation revealed she was most likely checking her phone.
“It's tough to bring up those memories, and it's still a fresh wound, but it's important to get that message out,” Fogg said. “People think, 'hey, it's only one little text,' and it seems like everyone is doing it, but people need to realize that's all it takes — only little text.”
He said it's difficult to believe something so minor could have such a tragic consequence.
“Jessie was killed doing something a lot of us do behind the wheel every day,” he said. “The message I would like to send in Jessie's honour this year, is to be vigilant and don't take driving for granted. Just because you're not the person to drink and drive, it doesn't mean the other bad driving habits you might have won't come back and hurt you. Driving is a privilege, and getting somewhere safely just doesn't happen on its own.”
Greater Sudbury Police Chief Paul Pedersen he has mixed feelings about speaking at the launch of the Red Ribbon campaign. While it's nice to be able to raise awareness, it's sad it has to happen in the first place, and drinking and driving is still a very serious problem in the city, he said.
“(Action's Sudbury's) mission (to eliminate drinking and driving) is one that we all support without question, but the reality is it isn't that simple to stop,” Pedersen said. “To get behind the wheel after drinking is a criminal decision. It's a crime, just like robbing a store or assaulting another person is a crime, and you wouldn't hesitate to call 911 if you saw either of those happening. Call 911 if you suspect a driver is impaired. You could be saving a life, it's that simple.”
From 2011 to 2015, Greater Sudbury Police handed out 50 three-day suspension, as well as one seven-day suspension and 31 impaired drivers.
“And that's just through our RIDE checks,” Pedersen said. “Don't think that it can't happen; don't think that it isn't happening, and don't think it isn't a crime or that it's someone else's problem.”
So far this year, Sudbury OPP officers have laid 34 charges for being impaired by alcohol, five charges for being impaired by drugs, as well as 28 warn-range suspensions.
“Just last night, we pulled over a driver at a RIDE check and charged them with impaired driving,” said Staff Sgt. Dan Esposto, detachment commander of Sudbury OPP. “There's more work to be done on our part, but getting this message out is so important.
“The majority of drivers know the importance of driving sober, but unfortunately, there is still a small number of drivers who choose to do so while impaired. The red ribbons serves as a reminder of the thousands of victims who have lost their lives or who have been injured by this senseless crime, and that's why all OPP vehicles will have a red ribbon attached to it.”
