In the News

If you drink, don't drive, says MADD
The Intelligencer
By Jason Miller
November 23, 2009

The heartwrenching agony of losing his son at the hands of an impaired driver 17 years ago is still fresh in Roy Gordon's mind.

Gordon, director of Mother's Against Drunk Driving Quinte Chapter, lost his son Andrew Gordon, an OPP officer who was then 28, in 1992. Andrew was killed when a drunk driver slammed into the cruiser carrying him and his partner north of Madoc on Highway 62.

"It's different when it's your son," he said.

Accompanied by several law enforcement and EMS officials along with local politicians such as Belleville's Mayor Neil Ellis and Quinte West Mayor John Williams, MADD launched Project Red Ribbon outside City Hall, Thursday.

Gordon, a retired OPP superintendent, said the organization is bolstering its fight against impaired driving by kick-starting the campaign that will see emergency vehicles, police cruisers and tow trucks carrying MADD stickers along with a red ribbon. The group is also encouraging people to display the ribbon on their vehicle, car keys, backpack or other personal items.

"I've been in the police business for 50 years and it's not much different now than it was then," Gordon said.

"There are many repeat offenders who continue because they know their chance of being stopped are low."

He said with almost 1,500 impaired driving deaths rattling Canada each year MADD Quinte chapter is beefing up efforts to raise awareness locally.

"It's really an epidemic when that many people are killed every year," he said. "Yet we see so little attention from the public."

Deputy Chief Paul VandeGraaf, of Belleville Police Service, said the multi-faceted approach raises awareness during arguably the busiest time of year when there is a spike in partying. He said joining forces with community groups such as MADD is essential to the fight against impaired driving. "To win the war against impaired driving you need partnerships," he said. "Police have been doing this for years and we've never really had surmountable success."

Also see...

Project Red Ribbon campaign