Driving message home
By ROSS ROMANIUK
Winnipeg Sun
November 7, 2008

Mothers Against Drunk Driving joined police and politicians in Winnipeg yesterday to again try to drive the message home for the Christmas season that the mix of drinking and driving is lethal.

MADD Canada's Winnipeg chapter launched its Project Red Ribbon at Kildonan Place Shopping Centre, with Justice Minister Dave Chomiak slamming Manitoba's tally of 22 people killed so far this year by inebriated motorists.

"That's criminal. You don't have an excuse," Chomiak said. "You don't get in that car and drive."

Local MADD president Doug Mowbray urged drivers to use the agency's red holiday-season ribbons to "tie one on" their antennas or bumpers to spread the message of yuletide traffic safety.

Mowbray, whose 21-year-old son was killed in a highway crash involving a drunk driver, said the past five years have seen Canada's daily average death toll from the problem drop to about four from 4.5.

 

"It's getting better," Mowbray said. "Saving even one life, or half a life, in percentages is important."

Project Red Ribbon runs through Jan. 5. Information on the ribbon campaign is available at 896-6233.