Ontario Community Council on Impaired Driving is a registered charity operating in Ontario since 1989 (officially). We have hosted the arrive alive DRIVE SOBER campaign since that time. OCCID does not telemarket, we do not use professional fundraisers. All board members sit in a voluntary capacity.

SUPPORT SOBER DRIVING THIS WINTER SEASON ...

Shut Out Impaired Driving - Radio PSA - English - Français
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Ontario Community Council on Impaired Driving (OCCID) unveiled a new winter version of their arrive alive DRIVE SOBER campaign at the close of 2005. “Shut Out Impaired Driving” was the culmination of several factors: both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators had agreed to record a new PSA in support of sober driving, professionals in the issue were looking for motivation to push the statistics closer to zero, and after 17 years, the arrive alive DRIVE SOBER® campaign was looking for a new avenue for an impaired driving initiative.

“Shut Out” was inspired primarily by the fact that over all, impaired driving fatality rates haven’t seen much improvement over the last five years of data. It was and is our hope that the campaign will bring a fresh look to the issue and provoke renewed action to prevent impaired driving.

Research from more than a decade ago found that messages to address drinking and driving were best delivered by peers and "personalities” and further that they shouldn’t just say “don’t drink and drive” (everyone already knows that); the study suggested that an effective PSA must outline strategies to promote the right behavior. “Shut Out” incorporates this approach at the same time, reflecting the evolution that has occurred in the issue.

Last year the Ottawa Senators facilitated the participation of Antoine Vermette - a young left winger from St. Agapit, Quebec now wearing # 20 for the Sens. Ottawa has supported OCCID's arrive alive DRIVE SOBER PSAs since the late '90's, and it won't hurt that Vermette is off to a great start this year. Antoine Vermette was a pleasure to work with - he afforded us several hours to record messages (en les deux langues), and was a great ambassador for the sport and for the Senators.

OCCID is looking forward to the third edition of Shut Out Impaired Driving which will transpire over the Christmas holidays and into the New Year. Other campaign components include postering in arenas and partnering with hockey teams to get the message out.

OCCID acknowledges the The Beer Store and Ontario's Ministry of Transportation for their support of this campaign.