Going Places

speaker's corner Still Much Work To Do CAN YOU BELIEVE WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT 6 GOING PL ACES p06-07_Speaker'sCorner.indd 6 >> Dutch Treat drunk driving? It's been more than four decades since laws against drinking and driving were introduced in Canada. Yet despite the advice of law enforcement, government, medical experts and advocacy groups such as MADD and CAA, drivers continue to take the risk. They're still getting behind the wheel after having too much to drink. Come summer, tourists and vacationers increase the amount of traffic already on our roads and highways. Adding to that, summer is the season of picnics, barbecues and get-togethers – occasions where one might drink. Just one person risking drinking and driving puts other lives at risk. When the first impaired driving laws were introduced in the '60s, driving under the influence declined significantly. Motorists got the message. But since the late '90s, though the numbers haven't gone up, limited progress has been made in further reducing the rates of drinking and driving. A few years ago, a CAA survey proved as much. The Manitoba results showed 35 per cent of those questioned admitted to driving after drinking at least once during the previous 12 months. Even that one time could cause an accident – it could take one life, or more. That is one risk too many. Last winter the Winnipeg Police Service's Festive Season Checkstop Program stopped more than twice the number of vehicles as in the previous year, but fewer impaired driving charges were laid. Is that a signal the message is getting through? What it tells me is while the number of those charged is down, the problem hasn't been solved. After all, in the CAA survey mentioned earlier, 98 per cent of respondents said they know it's not acceptable to drive when they've had too much to drink. So do we still need to talk about impaired driving? Yes. We do. As long as motorists are taking chances – and people are dying – attitudes haven't changed enough for us to stop talking about such an important topic. –Mike Mager President and CEO, CAA Manitoba I LOOK FORWARD TO READING GOING PLACES with its travel articles and useful tips. I particularly enjoyed Canalmania (Spring 2013) by Karen Burshtein. The interesting commentary and wonderful photographs have put Amsterdam at the top of my travel destinations. –Bonnie Tregobov Winnipeg Artist Appreciation THE 50 ARTISTS OF THE WAVE Interlake Artists' Studio Tour were absolutely delighted with Simone Hébert Allard's article, "Glass Dragonflies, Too" (Spring 2013). Everyone has been talking about it and sharing your magazine. This is incredible publicity for our event, and we are so appreciative for the wonderful spread. Our upcoming tour is June 8-9, 2013, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; watchthewave.ca. –Heidi Hunter, WINNBAC Treasurer Winnipeg Beach Dream Trip THANKS TO ALL THE STAFF WHO ASSISTED US with our DreamWorks Dream Vacation to California. Our adventures included the Rose Parade, Disneyland and hiking in the Mojave Desert, as well as such Los Angeles highlights as the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Grauman's Chinese Theatre and, of course, a tour of DreamWorks Studios. CAA and its sponsors just didn't give us a trip, they gave us a lifelong memory to share. And isn't that what family trips are for? –Heather De Smedt DreamWorks Dream Vacation Contest Winner, Winnipeg If you have any comments about anything in Going Places, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at: Speaker's Corner, P.O. Box 1400, 870 Empress Street, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2Z3; email: contact@caamanitoba.com. Letters may be edited for clarity and brevity. facebook.com/caamanitoba twitter.com/caamanitoba SUMMER 2013 13-04-12 12:57 PM G # E • • • • • • •

• Cover