Mothers Against Drunk Driving wants you to take advantage of a program to keep roads safe this St. Patrick’s Day.
National President of MADD Margaret Miller tells Bayshore Broadcasting News there is absolutely no excuse to get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking.
Miller says all you have to do is dial POUND TAXI – that’s #-8-2-9-4.
Pushing those 5 buttons will put you in touch with a local cab company.
Miller says the service is available anywhere in Canada, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
She says it’s so simple, you can never again say you don’t know a cab’s number.
Miller says with most people having cell phones these days, it’s easy to leave your car at home and call for a cab whenever you need one – she recommends you even program POUND TAXI into your phone.
Miller also says cell phones mean police have more eyes than ever before on our roads – she says more and more people are calling 9-1-1 when they believe they see a drunk driver.
However, Miller says drunk driving numbers in Canada are actually on the rise.
The fatality rate is still four people a day, but injuries from drunk driving incidents are up from 196 to 207.
Miller says the cost to families and the strain on the health system is just too great.
She says this has become everyone’s problem and is something all Canadians need to pay attention to.