CAA survey takes a sober look at drinking and driving

THORNHILL, ON, Dec. 8 /CNW/ - Ontarians don't always make the right decision when it comes to drinking and driving, according to a new CAA study.

CAA's Traffic Safety Culture survey has found 27 per cent of those questioned admitted to driving while under the influence "at least once" in the past year. Eighteen per cent say they have driven when they believe they have been at or over the legal limit in the last 12 months. Of the 18 per cent; seven per cent said they did it "just once", 10 per cent answered "rarely" and one per cent admitted they have driven "fairly often" when they thought they were close to or over the legal limit.

This in spite of the fact that 97 per cent of Ontarians say it is socially unacceptable for a driver to get behind the wheel when they have had too much to drink.

"In this day and age, not only is it unacceptable to drink and drive it is also unacceptable to let anyone you know that has been drinking drive," said Silvana Aceto, Media & PR Specialist, CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO).

"The holiday season is full of office parties and get-togethers with loved ones and the chance of tying one on and driving is much higher. This is why CAA is urging drivers to plan ahead, arrange for a designated driver, call a cab, take public transit or stay overnight. What ever you do, don't drink and drive," stressed Aceto.

The CAA study surveyed 2,000 Canadians, of those 600 were from Ontario.

Meanwhile, for the past five years, CAA SCO has taken part in Operation Red Nose. The campaign, which is in its sixth year, offers safe rides home to partygoers between Nov. 25 and Dec. 31. On Saturday December 4, CAA Insurance participated in the volunteer program and provided rides in Newmarket and Aurora.

CAA South Central Ontario is a not-for-profit auto club offering insurance, travel, automotive care and roadside services. There are more than 1.8 million CAA members in South Central Ontario and 5 million members in Canada. We're more than Roadside Assistance. We're Life-side Assistance. Visit www.caasco.com.

For further information:

Media contact: Silvana Aceto, Media and PR Specialist, CAA SCO, [email protected], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone] or Jeff LeMoine, Internal/External PR Specialist, [email protected], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone]

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