Operation Red Nose Cold Lake kept the roads safer this holiday season, ensuring residents under the influence didn't get behind the wheel.
"It was a great season," expressed Dave Zimmerman, program manager for Cold Lake Victim Services and coordinator for the local Operation Red Nose. "We want to say a big thank you to all of our volunteers that participated and helped out in giving 287 safe rides home to people and their vehicles over the 11 nights of operation."
According to Zimmerman, the number of impaired driving tickets issued has dropped in recent years when the program has been offered.
"We only had two impaired driving charges, and that's incredible. Last year, there was only four, the year before that there was five, and the year before that there was 12. We've been keeping track for four or five years... I would like to think (the decrease) is a direct correlation with Operation Red Nose," he said.
Rides were offered this year from the end of November to the weekend before Christmas on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. There program was also available on New Year's Eve.
Sixty volunteers drove more than 4,500 kilometres ensuring people got home in one piece.
The over $5,400 donations raised will go toward the Cold Lake Victim Services Unit (VSU) youth initiative programs and training staff on working with youth impacted by crime.
While their number of lifts saw a drop compared to 341 in 2017, Zimmerman believes that's a sign people are exploring other options to get themselves home safely.
"It's still telling me that people are still making smart choices for themselves," he noted, adding they may be arranging to be picked up, going out with designated drivers, and using local taxi services.
With the last person dropped off New Year's Day, Cold Lake VSU bids farewell to organizing the program. They've been involved with Operation Red Nose for the past eight years.
"It's been a success, and we're going to miss it. We're going to miss being part of Operation Red Nose, and I think some of my volunteers and staff members will always be part of Operation Red Nose to some degree... I'm personally going to miss it, and will probably be involved somehow... Unfortunately, because of our file count and how busy VSU is, we just can't take it on anymore," detailed Zimmerman.
A new group has shown interest in running the initiative, but nothing has become official yet.
Zimmerman said, "It's going to change things, but things are going to change for the better and we're going to be mentoring the new organization."
On behalf of the Cold Lake VSU, Zimmerman took a moment to thank everyone that has been a part of the program over the years.
"Thank you Cold Lake for the support of Operation Red Nose. We're going to miss it to a degree in terms of being the host organization, but we're really happy that we feel it's going to be someone else that's going to take it over."
