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Pat Arbucklo Chtonicle Staff "We would like to educate people in Kitchener-Waterloo so that they would think that drinking and driving in Kitchener-Waterloo is no longer socially acceptable," explained John Dobias. the group's founder. Modelled after a similar organization established in Toronto last year, Dobias described PRIDE as "a citizen's group formed to focus public opinion on a growing concern about impaired drivers." There are 14 chapters across Ontario and several others are currently being formed. Drinking and driving _ it's a deadly combination. While members of the newly-formed PRIDE (People to Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) see it as a potential threat to every member of the community, they are hoping that peer pressure may be an effective tool in changing society's attitudes toward impaired drivers. Since the first meeting of PRIDE three weeks ago, membership has swelled to 250 people, representing a cross-section of the community, said Dobias. Some have been convicted of impaired driving, others are victims of such accidents. Most, however, are Just ordinary citizens who share concern about a growing social problem. - _ - _ "We are not opposed to alcohol. We just don't think you should go driving and endanger the public." explained Dobias. "We welcome anyone who agrees that drinking and driving don't mix and would like to help." Dobias was prompted to start a PRIDE chapter after his wife Silvan was killed last summer. The driver of the car involved in the accident has been charged with impaired driving. Still, he stresses that revenge was not his motive for establishing the group, but rather a growing awareness of the extent of the problem. "Before I didn't know anything about the statistics of drinking and driving. I got to know that there are hardly any penalties - Just a slap on the wrist," he taid, - Statistics, provided by PRIDE, for example, show that 3,000 people in Canada die each year and an additional 100,000 are injured as a result of alcohol-related accidents. In fact, impaired drivers are involved in an accident in Canada every five minutes and cause a total of one billion dollars in damage annually. "It comes out of your pocket and mine. This is why we feel it should be everyorte's concern because of the cost and the fact that you don't know who the next victim will be," Doblas said. At a meeting last week, PRIDE's organizing committee mapped the group's future strategy. Plans include the implementation of a public education program to increase public awareness of the problem through information displays in area shopping malls and presentations to students and community groups (The first information display will be set up this week in Waterloo Town Square). While members hope to compile information on the problem using police and court records, they are also committed to assisting victims of impaired drivers and their families. For ROW, however. the main concern of the group is building a strong membership. - “The more peirpie involved, the bettcr chance of having something accomplished," he explained. 7 - PRIDE is also promoting an 11-point program of legislative and social reform. Recommendations include: 0 raising the drinking age to 21 q an increase in the mandatory minimum fine for impaired driving convictions from $50 to $500 d mandatory Blood tests for drivers who are unable. or say they are unable, to provide a breath sample o-ttost-aim,-. icon-1pm " My A”. W..‘Vm end leave your worries "III " Flight/Accident Insurance to $100,000.00 we really can Come fly with rtEi2?i J‘VVM “\VICEQ L'2i " "iy2, o lowering of the acceptable blood-alcohol level from .08 to .05 . expansion of police spot check programs 0 installation of a roadside breath tester in every police car in Ontario o impounding of vehicles of convicted impaired drivers, 30 days for a first offence. 60 for the second and three months for the third q persons caught driving with a licence suspended for a conviction under the criminal code should be charged under the criminal code, not the Highway Traffic Act o warning labels placed ontottiiis of valcoholic bever- ages Miller added that the Waterloo Regional Police will be doing its part to change social attitudes toward impaired driving. The local department has produced a film entitled Highway Killers on the Loose which Miller described as "an attention grabber." q pressure on suppliers of alcohol not to serve patrons who are impaired o a ban on lifestyle advertising of beverage alcohol Inspector Ken Miller of the Waterloo Regional Police said that the goals of PRIDE are shared by the police department, which has been attempting to reduce impaired driving through its educational and enforcement programs. "If you have input from people in the community. it's got to be helpful," he said. "There is no doubt I would support his (Dobias') group or any group which has the best interests of the community at heart. It's up to the police department to take advantage of a group like this," he said. The film is geared to young people who are learning to drive and may be beginning to drink. said Miller. He also Group hopes peer pressure will play influential role in changing attitude towards those who drink and drive RUST CHECKED mutton... 'utCttetsttoesrtott-t.L 'tuqtCtteehttttetnotttTAt$t MM dunno!” “Macaw!!!” momma». E. (mu m) Approved by A.P.A. lhtAgttttBe 'ttFe W) No claim: on warranty in oval 75,000 vehicles Rust Control Fooling ttred? Rundown? Tohe a walk 745-3431 mu. .' 5XCD" LTEE7 “lit-"Illa hopes to eventually make viewing the film mandatory for all persons convicted of impaired driving, particularly first offenders. Since the film wasstirst shown three weeks ago at the Ontario Traffic Conference in Toronto, Miller said he has received calls from some 20 police departments in Ontario and the US requesting copies. Waterloo Regional Police also plan to reintroduce the RIDE program during the month of December. The program allows police officers to stop cars in the Region, conduct a safety check of the vehicle and, if drinking is suspected, administer a roadside breath test. If the test shows a reading at or above the .08 blood-alcohol level, the driver can be taken in to police headquarters for a breathalyzer test. If the reading is borderline - between .05 and .08 - police can enforce a 12-hour driving suspension. According to Deputy Chief Charles Clare of the Waterloo Regional Police, the RIDE program, in operation from time to time throughout the year when manpower permits, is designed "to reduce the number of impaired drivers on the road." Miller added that one of the programs greatest values, however, is as a deterrent. It's not so much the number of impaired drivers who are caught because of it, but the number who think twice before they drive when they are drinking, he said. For more information on PRIDE. call 743-6005 or write to PRIDE of Kitchener-Waterloo, P.O. Box 576, Station C. Kitchener, N2J 4A2. Note: The Canada Safety Council has declared the week of Dee. I to T National Safe Driving Week. This year's theme, None for the Road. focuses on drinking and driving. Certtneates of commendation will be awarded to Canadian cities with a population of 40,000 or more that are free of traffic fatalities during that week. bla LFOR au. YOUR; LOOKING NEED [tiii] RICH-CRAFT INTERIORS 274 W Dr. 'erirteiy10_errrr_oyAetr L'hh', VISIT DE SHOWROOMS 884-9131 8tt,uq8--PA3f6