It’s Christmas!

Once again it’s Christmas. It’s a time when many people gather together with friends and family to celebrate their customs and beliefs. It is a special time of the year when we celebrate many traditions including tinsel, turkey and mistletoe. It’s a time to cherish the people we love. Every year at this time RRID offers our contract, A Promise for Friends and Family.

This contract was originally written several years ago and is designed to be a tool to begin a conversation about impaired driving among people who care for each other. A Promise for Family and Friends was written to help people plan ahead and make the right choices.

This year it seems even timelier. Over the past years I have given presentations to thousands of youths on Vancouver Island. In many of the presentations I ask my youthful audience how many have them have ridden in a car when an impaired driver is at the wheel. I am always shocked and saddened when over 75% of the audience admits that they have.

This document is not designed exclusively for teens. It can be used by any two committed parties. However, if you have a teenager it is crucial that you discuss this subject with them and commit to a family plan.

Please read this document carefully, discuss it and agree to it, then sign it. Both of you should keep a copy as a reminder. Both of you should make a commitment to honor the promises you made. Recognize that you have just exchanged the greatest gift of all… You are friends for life.

Joan Parsons
President
Rid Road of Impaired Drivers

A Promise for Family and Friends

This is a promise between two people who care about each other. A commitment that is made sincerely, recognizing the concern and responsibility we have for each other:

I promise I will not drive if I have been using alcohol or drugs.

I promise I will do everything in my power to prevent you from driving if you have been using alcohol or drugs.

I commit to call you if I am ever in need of a ride when I have been using alcohol or drugs or the driver I am driving with has been using alcohol or drugs.

I promise to be there for you when you call, to provide safe transportation home from any place, at any time or to help you determine safe alternatives.

I also promise that at that time there will be no questions asked, no lectures given, just a safe ride home.

We promise that at a future time we will sit down together and discuss the incident in a positive, constructive manner.

We agree to be responsible to each other because…

We are Friends for Life.

Signed: _________________

Dated: __________________

Operation Red Nose

Operation Red Nose offers motorists, who have been drinking a free and confidential way to get both themselves and their vehicles home safely. Operation Red nose provides its service in more than 90 communities across Canada and drives more than 100,000 motorists and their passengers each year during the holiday season.

How does it work? Simply dial the local Operation Red Nose number and a team of 3 volunteers will pick you up and drive you to the destination of your choice… in your own car! So, let Operation Red Nose be your Last Call before you hit the road.

In Nanaimo call 755-6969 on any Friday or Saturday night in December.

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