Cousin Vinny’s Offers Ride Safe Program
Free service operated solely by volunteers serves to keep roads safe
Ride Safe is a non-profit program dedicated to the prevention of impaired driving. From Cousin Vinny’s in the Valley, Ride Safe is completely free and is conducted by volunteers, consisting of Valley residents.
"I think it's a great program and for a really important cause," Ride Safe volunteer driver Natasha James said. "You're never going to stop drinking, but at least with Safe Ride, you can encourage people to be more responsible about drinking and driving."
"Ride Safe is available every Friday and Saturday night," Cousin Vinny’s co-owner Chris Vitiello said.
The first night this program is set to run is the weekend of October 1st.
Volunteers wait at Cousin Vinny’s between the hours of 10 pm and 2 am for patrons requesting transportation. Each car can provide rides for two to five people.
Ride Safe can be a valuable experience for volunteer drivers.
"Ride Safe is a good opportunity to do community service," Co-owner Tylor McNair said "I encourage anyone interested in volunteering to contact us."
Volunteer drivers need to complete a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid course, undergo a simple background check, have a clean driving record and have been in possession of a driver's license for at least one year. These precautions are meant to ensure the safety of everyone in the car.
Drivers volunteer for a variety of reasons, including being active in their community and the chance to reduce drunk driving.
"Ride Safe provides anyone who drinks with the option of being safe," McNair said. "They can come party, have fun and not need to worry about how they will get home."
Ride Safe’s goal is to provide people, with a safe way to get home so that no one has to resort to drunk driving and risk losing their lives and the lives of others.
For more information please visit www.cousinvinnys.ca or call 969-5644
