City of Hamilton

Impaired Driving: Think Before you Drive Campaign

The holiday season is upon us and people are getting together to celebrate with food and drinks. This December, the City of Hamilton Public Health Services is launching a campaign reminding everyone to drive sober. Posters and “Think before you Drive” cards will be distributed to various banquet centres and bars in Hamilton and the “never drink and drive” message will be promoted throughout the community. The purpose of the campaign is to encourage people to find a safe way home if they have been drinking. Hamilton Public Health is also pleased that the Hamilton Police will be promoting Operation Lookout and conducting R.I.D.E. lanes throughout the month as well.

Drinking and driving is a serious issue. Overall, the percentage of alcohol-related collisions in Hamilton has been rising steadily since 1998. Fortunately, as a result of legislation the percentage of alcohol-related collisions for those under age 21 has been stable and decreasing. There is still a long way to go; on average, each and every day, 4 Canadians are killed in impaired driving crashes. Everyone must make sure they never drink and drive.

“Parents need to model responsible behaviours for their children,” says Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Hamilton’s Medical Officer of Health. “Kids are less likely to take risks if they can count on parents for a safe ride home any time and see that you always choose not to drink and drive.

If you have been drinking, you can help keep our roads safe by taking any of the following steps:

Stay overnight
If you have to get home, take a bus, cab, or ride with a designated driver
Call family or friends for a ride.
Never ride with an impaired driver.

If you are hosting a social event here are some tips to help make sure your guests don’t drink and drive:

Have food and non-alcoholic beverages available
Stop serving alcohol long before the event is scheduled to end
Have a plan prepared before the party to make sure everyone gets home safely

The holidays are a time for celebrating with family, friends, and co-workers. However, getting you and your family home safely is important at all times of the year. Drinking and driving is never appropriate. For more information about impaired driving and alcohol please click on the links.

Public Health Services Activities

Public Health Services is working on comprehensive substance misuse prevention programming. Public Health Services is working together with schools, universities, colleges, workplaces, peer professionals, and the Hamilton community. The following is a summary of some initiatives that Public Health is involved in.

Impaired Driving Campaign
An impaired driving campaign was launched in December 2007. The campaign focuses on educating the public about drinking and driving. Campaign materials are designed to prevent people from drinking and driving. Public Health has linked with the Hamilton Police Service for this campaign and is looking forward to future community-wide impaired driving campaigns. It is everyone’s responsibility to keep our roads safe. Never drink and drive. For campaign materials, please Resources below.

Safer Bars
This is a program to reduce violence and aggression in bars. This program includes a 3 hour workshop for bar owners, managers and staff and is accompanied by resources to help bar staff create a safer environment for its patrons. Public Health will be organizing Safer Bars training for bars in Hamilton in 2008. If you are interested in participating, please contact us.

Party in the Right Spirit
Party in the Right Spirit is a one-day annual workshop targeting high school staff, students and parents to help them to develop and implement strategies in their schools addressing party related high risk behaviour such as impaired driving and how to encourage students to make good decisions.

THINK!
The THINK! program is an interactive event to educate grade 7 & 8 students about the consequences of drug use, help them develop skills to resist peer pressure and increase their knowledge of healthy alternatives to drug use.

Low Risk Drinking Guidelines
The Low Risk Drinking Guidelines are promoted throughout the community. For more information about low risk drinking please visit www.lrdg.net

Hamilton Drug and Alcohol Awareness Committee
The Hamilton Drug and Alcohol Awareness Committee (HDAAC) works to improve the quality of life for the Hamilton Community by collaborating with other organizations to educate toward prevention and the promotion of positive alternatives for drugs and alcohol. HDAAC has a newly formed youth committee. For Drug Awareness Week the youth committee created and delivered a presentation for other Hamilton youth to encourage them to make the right choices in life and stay away from alcohol and drugs. For more information about HDAAC, visit www.ruaware.ca.

For more information on these and other initiatives please call 905-546-3162