In the News

Get involved – call 911 and keep our roads safe
BayToday.ca
By Kate Adams
November 4, 2009

The impact drinking and driving has on a family is as clear today for Elaine Commanda as it was seven years ago when she lost her brother at the hands of a drunk driver. An emotional Commanda shared the story of her brother and three other family members who were killed by drunk drivers as Mothers Against Drunk Driving - Nipissing Chapter officially launched their ‘Get involved – wear a Red Ribbon, call 911 and keep our roads safe’ Red Ribbon Campaign at Memorial Gardens.

Commanda, whose niece sustained lifelong injuries at the hands of a drunk driver, says she is angry that people still don’t get the message. She says her family has suffered great pain – more pain than anyone should have to endure because someone made a bad choice.

“You hear it on the news and it has struck so many people and you know we are one of them and it just changes your life forever.”

“I am having such a difficult time in dealing with tragedies like this,” she tells the crowd asking where are the people who make the wrong choices and cause the hardships and grief.

“Where are they now, where are all the drunk drivers now, they’re not in jail ... because this guy who killed my brother went (to jail) for a couple of months on his second conviction, he’s not in jail where is he,” she asks.

“I invite all those drunk drivers if they feel remorse and they want to change their life come out here and speak ... has it affected them like us. To have to tell my mother that her only son is dead is very difficult to even fathom.”

Commanda concluded by stating that impaired driving doesn’t just have a profound impact on the victims and their families but also effects emergency workers who are first on the scene.

“That’s very traumatising and my heart goes out to them because they have to deal with this over and over again ... and the message has to get out that this has to change because it is no accident it’s a choice.”

“You either choose to take a cab ... you can choose to drink and drive or you can choose not to drink and drive cause it is no accident at all these types of things can be prevented.”

Commanda said she wants the message put out loud and clear from a victim’s point of view that the pain is real and she hopes that as a community there can be change.

Kathy Douglas, who knows all too well the impact impaired driving can have on a family as her son suffers lifelong medical conditions after being struck by a drunk driver, says she doesn’t know what more can be done to get the MADD message out but is pleased that the RIDE program will be stepped up in the city over the holiday season.

“It’s NOT an accident by any means because it’s a choice,” she says of impaired driving.

“You choose to drink than you make your choice beforehand of a safe ride home.”

Also see...

The MADD Canada Project Red Ribbon campaign