By FireRescue1 Staff
SASKATCHEWAN, Canada — A rural fire department is offering rides to wedding guests who have had too much to drink.
Global News reported that the Davidson Volunteer Fire Department is hoping to prevent tragedies caused by drunk driving by offering a “rural ride-share” to both the newlyweds and their guests.
“If you have too much to drink and you want a safe ride home and the convenience of having your vehicle home the next morning, just go up to the firefighters running the bar and they’ll arrange to drive you home in your car,” Deputy Chief Don Willer said.
Chief Clayton Schilling said the idea stems from a fatal crash in which a friend of the fire department, Danille Kerpan, was killed by a drunk driver four years ago.
“Danille was the hardest one because I knew her, we’re all friends and it was a person from our community,” he said. “I’ve pulled lots of people out of cars before, Danille’s hurt and it always will.”
The program is not only a way to save lives, but also to get firefighters out in the community and raise money for new equipment.
Saskatchewan has had some of the highest drunk driving rates in the country in the past, but Willer said social norms have begun to change due to an increase in consequences.
“The mindset is shifting, people are realizing it’s not worth it,” Willer said.