The Manitoba Driver > Operation Red Nose lights way to safe holiday travel

The Manitoba Driver, from Manitoba Public Insurance
December 2008

About 475 words
Operation Red Nose lights way to safe holiday travel

Holiday revelers in eight communities across Manitoba have an opportunity this season to support local community groups while getting home from celebrations safely.

Operation Red Nose, the annual safe-ride program sponsored by Manitoba Public Insurance, has officially begun its 14th season.

Communities where Red Nose operates this year include: Winnipeg, Brandon, Thompson, Flin Flon, The Pas, Gimli, Portage la Prairie and Selkirk. Brandon’s Operation Red Nose returns after a two-year hiatus, this year operated by a new host organization, the Westman and Area Traditional Christmas Dinner.

“Operation Red Nose is proof positive that a simple idea, brought to life by strong community support, can save lives and keep Manitoba roadways safer,“ says Clif Eden, Manager of Road Safety Programming for Manitoba Public Insurance.

Last December, more than 1,500 volunteers across the province provided rides home to some 2,400 Manitobans. That’s an increase of 200 rides over the previous year.

“The holiday season is a treasured time of celebration with family and friends. But it’s a sad truth that it can turn tragic in a heartbeat with one bad decision,” Eden says.

Drinking and driving exacts a terrible price:

In 2007, 383 drivers involved in collisions were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Alcohol is involved in one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities.
19.1 per cent of all serious injury crashes involved alcohol.
An average of one Manitoban is killed every two weeks as the result of an impaired driving crash.

A program of this scope relies on the contributions of many volunteers at the community level. Other partners involved in Operation Red Nose include Safety Services Manitoba, the Provincial Government, and local law enforcement groups.

The local telephone number for Operation Red Nose in your community, as well as the name of the local organizing group, is listed below. MTS customers in all communities can dial #NOSE. To see which dates a particular service is operating, see the Safety Services Manitoba website: http://www.safetyservicesmanitoba.ca/rednose/

Brandon: 728-6673, Westman and Area Traditional Christmas Dinner.
Flin Flon: 687-7331, Rotary International (serving Flin Flon, Creighton, Denare Beach, Big Island and Bakers Narrows.)
Gimli: 642-9000, Gimli Car Club (serving Gimli, Winnipeg Beach and Fraserwood)
Portage la Prairie: 239-5570, Portage Minor Hockey Association (serving Portage la Prairie, Peony Farm and Southport.)
Selkirk: 482-NOSE (6673) Selkirk Dolphins Swimming Club (serving Selkirk, R.M. of St. Clements and R.M. of St. Andrews.)
The Pas: 623-3300, The Pas Roadrunners Swim Club (serving The Pas, Opaskwayak Cree Nation and R.M. of Kelsey.)
Thompson: 778-8111, The City of Thompson
Winnipeg: 947-NOSE (6673), The Manta Swim Club (serving Winnipeg, St. Norbert, and Headingley.)

Remember, drivers have several choices instead of drinking and driving:

Call a cab,
Catch a ride with a sober friend,
Or call Operation Red Nose for a safe ride home.

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