Safe Ride Home Sudbury returns this festive season

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, Safe Ride Home Sudbury is returning to the roads for the upcoming Holiday season.

Their goal is to prevent impaired driving. Clients are driven home in their own vehicles by a team of volunteers.

Safe Ride Home Sudbury is looking for people willing to give of their time to prevent impaired driving this festive season.

"Volunteers (can) come out by themselves and we will match them up on a team, or they can come out with family and friends and make their own team or we get a lot of groups that come out and help us from businesses or organizations," said Lesli Green, the president of Safe Ride Home Sudbury.

"Anyone can volunteer simply by applying online at saferidehomesudbury.ca"

Employees from Pure Country 91.7 are planning to volunteer this year and said the service is invaluable.

"I mean, it's in the name Safe Ride Home Sudbury itself. We want to ensure that absolutely everybody -- especially with the Christmas season around the corner -- gets home safe and their vehicle safe," said Julia Williams, promotions director of Pure Country 91.7.

Greater Sudbury Police said it partners with Safe Ride Home Sudbury to ensure public messaging and awareness about the impacts of impaired driving.

"It allows the community to have a choice -- an extra choice -- to not drink and drive, which comes with some pretty severe consequences," said Sgt. Blair Ramsay.

In 2019, Safe Ride Home Sudbury said more than 300 volunteers traveled almost 40,000 kilometres giving more than 8,000 people a safe ride home.