After a one year hiatus, the "Wing in the New Year" program will return on Dec. 31. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Safe ride home

Cab coupons and free New Year’s Eve bus service return this year

Dec 4, 2021 | 8:00 AM

As the holiday season quickly approaches, a number of agencies in Prince Albert have started to roll out plans to help reduce the number of impaired drivers on the road.

One of those initiatives is a $10 cab coupon. The Prince Albert and Area Community Alcohol Strategy Steering Committee (CASSC) is behind the program in partnership with SGI, Northern Lights Community Development Corporation, Grey Cab and Checker/Family Taxi.

CASSC coordinator Karen Anthony Burns told paNOW the program was started in 2016, and since then they have doubled the number of coupons they are offering.

“Last year we had a return on them of 77 used so that means 77 people thought about a plan to have a safe ride home,” she said.

The Prince Albert Police Service will distribute 200 of the cab coupons to local licensed establishments and the taxi companies will have the remaining 200. They can be used throughout the months of December and January, and are valid between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

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(Submitted/The Prince Albert & Area Community Alcohol Strategy Steering Committee)

Another option for party goers this year is the return of the city’s free bus service on New Year’s Eve. The “Wing in the New Year” program is funded by SGI and was initiated in Prince Albert in 1989. Due to COVID, the program was suspended last year. Total ridership in 2019 was 655, which represented the highest number in five years.

The most used route was west flat (164), followed by west hill (151) and the all day route (117). Burns explained programs like the cab coupons and the free transit service do make a difference, and help people better prepare for a night out on the town.

“We anticipate anybody going out during that time period, maybe christmas parties or doing anything like that, will have a chance to make that plan,” she said.

To the end of October, the Prince Albert Police Service had 86 arrests related to impaired driving. This represented a 14 per cent decrease from 2020 when there were 100. The big difference this year is the fact that with restrictions easing in July, licensed establishments can serve drinks longer.

Burns who is also a board member with the local MADD chapter, also reminds people they will be doing check stops once a month. Dates and locations are not being disclosed.

As was previously announced in October, Operation Red Nose, a safe ride service during the holiday season will not be running this year due to COVID.

Executive director Anne-Marie Audet explained the safety of their volunteers and clients is their top priority, and the organization had no choice but to push the service to next year.

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nigel.maxwelll@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell