Calgarians urged to plan ahead over the holidays to avoid driving impaired
Aaron Libby knows the effects of drinking and driving all too well. Libby is a survivor of a crash 10 years ago that changed his life forever.
He was driving home from a Calgary Stampede event in 2013 when he was hit head-on by a drunk driver east of Strathmore.
He's still living with the injuries he sustained that day, including a severe brain injury.
"When I do presentations at schools, because of the head trauma, I'll go off on a tangent and I may come back, I may not. So they see me stuttering and lost for words. They see the real thing," said Libby, vice-president of MADD Calgary.
"It's still ongoing. Last December, I had my first joint replacement, and I still have four more to go," he said.
A checkstop sign is one of many props used by MADD to remind drivers about the consequences of impaired driving. (Dan McGarvey/CBC)
Libby says he was one of the lucky ones.
A travelling memorial wall that accompanies him to events is made up of 1,030 photos of impaired driving victims, which Libby says grows every year.
He says the solution is a simple one but notoriously difficult to get people to stick to after they start consuming alcohol or drugs. He says having a plan is a great way to prevent a tragedy.
"Don't drive impaired. Make a plan," he said. "If you're going out with a group and it's your normal group, draw straws. So you're the designated driver this week. Next week, it'll be Billy or Sue," he said.
Police and first responders are echoing that message.
"Especially coming into the holiday season, but impaired driving plays a huge role in collisions and fatalities throughout the year," said Brian McAsey, deputy chief of the Calgary Fire Department.
A hearse is used by MADD at an event to reinforce the message of not driving while impaired this holiday season. (Dan McGarvey/CBC)
"But there are a lot more people and a lot more parties, and it's a plague in a lot of ways.… It becomes especially acute at this time," he said.
McAsey says warmer weather can make the problem worse. He says some of the worst accidents happen on clear roads at higher speeds.
He says there's a serious toll on first responders as well as the victims.
"It's terrible going to a scene. You're a human being and it's hard to get some of those images out of your head, especially with children and people who've been hurt and killed," said McAsey.
McAsey says impaired driving is completely preventable and he'd love to see the problem disappear in our lifetimes.
