MADD Canada and Allstate Insurance Company of Canada are asking revellers to make road safety a priority this Halloween and plan ahead for a sober ride home if they’re going to be drinking.
“Let’s leave the scary scenes at the Halloween parties and keep our roads safe from impaired driving,” said MADD Canada National President Patricia Hynes-Coates.
This Halloween,
- don’t drive impaired — call a cab, take public transit, arrange a designated driver or plan to stay overnight;
- don’t ride with drivers who are impaired;
- if you see a driver you suspect is impaired, call 911 and report it to police.
“No one ever thinks an impaired driving crash will happen to them. But it does happen to thousands of people every year,” said Ms. Hynes-Coates, whose stepson Nicholas Coates was killed by an impaired driver in 2013. “These drivers never imagine they’ll cause a crash that injures or kills someone, but that is the tragic outcome for far too many families.”
Families like the O’Dell’s, who were devastated by one person’s decision to drive after drinking. Just days before Halloween in 2006, Laura and Greg O’Dell were taking their children, 12-year-old Kali and 9-year-old Jeremy to see their grandparents. The kids wanted to show off their Halloween costumes. The family’s car was hit head on by an impaired driver. Greg and Laura were killed. Kali and Jeremy were seriously injured.
In that moment, Kali’s and Jeremy’s lives changed forever. They are missing a lifetime of moments that should be shared with their parents.
“I’ll never have my father walk me down the aisle when I get married. I won’t have my mother there to hold my hand when I have my first child,” said Kali, now 22 years old.
Kali’s family, and the thousands of others who have been devastated by impaired driving, are the reason MADD Canada and its long-time sponsor, Allstate Canada, reach out to Canadians during holidays, special occasions and all year round — to remind people that impaired driving is simply not worth the risk.
“The decision to drive impaired, and the tragic consequences that can result from it, are things you can never take back,” said Ryan Michel, Allstate Canada President and CEO. “If you’re celebrating Halloween this weekend, or if you’re on the roads on Monday when the trick-or-treaters are out, please make safety a priority and leave the driving to someone sober.”
Anyone who needs a safe ride home from a Halloween party can check out MADD Canada sponsor THE RIDE Taxi and Transit app for fast and easy transportation options. Simply download THE RIDE app on your smartphone to book nearby cabs and plan your best transit route anywhere in Canada. And you can always dial #TAXI (#8294) on any cell phone to connect to the first available taxi company or a preferred one. For more information, visit https://gettherideapp.com/ and https://www.poundtaxi.com/
About MADD Canada
MADD Canada (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) is a national, charitable organization that is committed to stopping impaired driving and supporting the victims of this violent crime. With volunteer-driven groups in more than 100 communities across Canada, MADD Canada aims to offer support services to victims, heighten awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and save lives and prevent injuries on our roads. To learn more, visit www.madd.ca.
About Allstate Insurance Company of Canada
Allstate Insurance Company of Canada is one of the country’s leading producers and distributors of home and auto insurance products, serving Canadians since 1953. The company strives to keep its customers in “Good Hands®” as well as its employees, and has been listed four years in a row on the Best Employers in Canada list. Allstate Canada is committed to making a positive difference in the communities in which it operates and has partnered with organizations such as MADD Canada, United Way and Junior Achievement. To learn more about Allstate Canada, visit www.allstate.ca.
Source: Marketwired