New Year’s Eve rides, seat belt coupons

New Year's Eve rides, seat belt coupons

Several local organizations are working to help prevent motor vehicle accidents from interrupting anyone's holiday cheer.

The Sober and Safe Campaign is back for a 15th year of increasing driver safety awareness, with the combination of help from the Hi-Line Tavern Association, Hill County Buckle Up Montana, the DUI Task Force, the HELP Committee, the Safe Communities Coalition, Havre Ford and local law enforcement agencies.

Pam Davidson, the HELP Committee's regional prevention specialist, said the main focus of the campaign is to stop drinking and driving, particularly on New Year's Eve. For safety, the "Home Free Program" is returning.

The program offers rides to and from New Year's festivities, for people planning on consuming alcohol. The rides, provided by Havre Ford, will begin at 6 p.m. and will continue through the night.

To make transportation arrangements, riders can call 265-1700.

Havre Ford has the vehicles and arranged the drivers. Cellular One and Verizon have provided cell phones to drivers for efficient communications.

But drinking and driving is not the only way drivers can maim themselves on the roads this holiday. That's why the Sober and Safe Campaign and Buckle Up Montana are starting some new seat belt incentive programs starting Friday, to encourage seat belt use all the time

For the first program, coupons have been given to local law enforcement officers to give to people they pull over.

If drivers are stopped and are wearing their seat belt, they get a coupon.

A second program is similar but runs in various drive-throughs across Havre. If a clerk or cashier at a participating drive-through window sees a driver with a seat belt on, the driver receives a coupon.

Some coupons offer discounts. Some are good for free items. All of them are for local businesses. All of them expire in July 2011.

By rewarding good behavior, Davidson and the HELP Committee are hoping to catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

"Be sure to buckle up, and you will reap the rewards," Davidson said.

Programs offer incentives to keep Hi-Line drivers safe for holidays

Several local organizations are working to help prevent motor vehicle accidents from interrupting anyone's holiday cheer.

The Sober and Safe Campaign is back for a 15th year of increasing driver safety awareness, with the combination of help from the Hi-Line Tavern Association, Hill County Buckle Up Montana, the DUI Task Force, the HELP Committee, the Safe Communities Coalition, Havre Ford and local law enforcement agencies.

Pam Davidson, the HELP Committee's regional prevention specialist, said the main focus of the campaign is to stop drinking and driving, particularly on New Year's Eve. For safety, the "Home Free Program" is returning.

The program offers rides to and from New Year's festivities, for people planning on consuming alcohol. The rides, provided by Havre Ford, will begin at 6 p.m. and will continue through the night.

To make transportation arrangements, riders can call 265-1700.

Havre Ford has the vehicles and arranged the drivers. Cellular One and Verizon have provided cell phones to drivers for efficient communications.

But drinking and driving is not the only way drivers can maim themselves on the roads this holiday. That's why the Sober and Safe Campaign and Buckle Up Montana are starting some new seat belt incentive programs starting Friday, to encourage seat belt use all the time

For the first program, coupons have been given to local law enforcement officers to give to people they pull over.

If drivers are stopped and are wearing their seat belt, they get a coupon.

A second program is similar but runs in various drive-throughs across Havre. If a clerk or cashier at a participating drive-through window sees a driver with a seat belt on, the driver receives a coupon.

Some coupons offer discounts. Some are good for free items. All of them are for local businesses. All of them expire in July 2011.

By rewarding good behavior, Davidson and the HELP Committee are hoping to catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

"Be sure to buckle up, and you will reap the rewards," Davidson said.

Programs offer incentives to keep Hi-Line drivers safe for holidays