'Sober Ride' decals will send a strong visible message to young drivers not to drink and drive.
South Eastman paramedic, Shaylene Handford has launched a new drinking and driving awareness campaign in Manitoba called ‘Sober Ride’.
‘Sober Ride’ targets all drivers of all ages in Manitoba but will place the spotlight on young adults as this particular age demographic is the most challenging group of adults to get the message across to of not drinking and driving.
The 24-year-old resident of Ile des Chenes says her goal with Sober Ride is to eliminate impaired driving one vehicle at a time.
As a paramedic, Handford has seen her share of impaired driving accidents, which helped to inspire her to come up with the ‘Sober Ride’ campaign.
‘I see things that the public might never even hear about,’ says Handford, by explaining that advocacy and community outreach has always been on her mind being personally affected by this issue. Adding that she is driven to not only gain local support but also reach out to other rural community‟s and cities.
Once an individual takes the ‘Sober Ride’ pledge and makes a donation, they are provided with a vehicle decal. Sober Ride.
Handford hopes the ‘Sober Ride’ decals will send a strong visible message to young drivers not to drink and drive because with increased peer pressure, social status, and unpunished celebrity media coverage, teens and young adults have a hard time going against the grain of their group.
“‘Sober Ride’ is a fundraiser and all donations raised are used to produce decals, postage and advertisement,” explained Handford. “Placing the decal on your window means that your vehicle will always be driven by a sober driver.”
Additional information can be found on the ‘Sober Ride’ facebook fan page and Shaylene Handford can be contacted email at soberride@live.com.
