For the 42nd year, Operation Red Nose volunteers will be in action in a dozen areas across the province to drive Quebecers home safely.
In Montreal, as in most areas, the service will be available on New Year’s Eve from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m., according to Operation Red Nose executive director Marilyn Vigneault.
According to information available on the Operation Red Nose app, volunteers will be present in the areas of Beauce-Etchemins, Drummondville, Joliette-de-Lanaudière, Laval-Basses Laurentides, Longueuil-Rive-Sud, Quebec City-Lévis, Saint-Jérôme-Mirabel, Sherbrooke, Sorel-Tracy, Trois-Rivières, Vallée-du-Richelieu, and Les Appalaches.
Vigneault invites users to consult the Red Nose app or the organization’s website to check the availability of the service in their region, as hours of service may vary depending on the area.
She also reminds users that there are other options if the service is not available in their region.
“It’s important to plan your travel arrangements, whether it’s with Nez rouge, or by arranging for a designated driver, staying overnight when possible, or calling a taxi,” she recommends. “The point is to really plan your travel arrangements to avoid getting behind the wheel if you’re not in a fit state to do so.”
Last year, Red Nose provided just over 600 rides across the province on the evenings of Dec. 24 and 25 combined, according to the executive director.
Between the start of this year’s campaign on Nov. 28 and Dec. 14, the organization provided more than 10,000 rides.
“We’re not surprised by this number. Even though there are slight variations, it remains consistent from year to year,” explains Vigneault. “For us, every ride we provide is a potential accident avoided.”
As of Dec. 14, 9,488 people had joined the volunteer fleet, and the executive director says it is still possible to sign up “at the last minute, whether for Christmas parties or New Year’s Eve celebrations.”
The service, available until Dec. 31, is always free, but donations are welcome.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
