MADD Canada Urges Canadians to Keep This Long Weekend Crash-Free by Having A Sober Ride Home - msnbc.com

OAKVILLE, ONTARIO — Whether you are off to the cottage, heading out on the boat or kicking back on the deck or patio this Victoria Day long weekend, MADD Canada and Allstate Insurance Company of Canada are urging everyone to leave impaired driving out of the mix.

"We hope everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend and, most importantly, we hope everyone stays safe," said MADD Canada National President Denise Dubyk. "If you're celebrating this long weekend with a few drinks, arrange a sober ride home - for your own sake and for the sake of everyone else on the roads."

Impaired driving kills between 1,250 and 1,500 people every year and injures more than 63,000. Every single one of those deaths and injuries is preventable.

MADD Canada and Allstate are encouraging Canadians to keep themselves and one another safe this weekend:

      --  Don't drive a car, boat, ATV or any other vehicle while impaired;    --  Don't get into a vehicle being operated by someone who's impaired;    --  Call 911 if you see a driver or boater you suspect is impaired.       

"If everyone plans ahead and makes the right choices, we can eliminate impaired driving," said John O'Donnell, Allstate Insurance Company of Canada President and Chief Executive Officer. "For our families, our friends and our communities, let's make this long weekend fun, safe and tragedy-free."

25 Years of Partnership

This year, MADD Canada and Allstate Insurance Company of Canada celebrate 25 years of partnership in the effort to stop impaired driving. Allstate Canada has been the lead sponsor on all MADD Canada programs at various times over those years, and has also been a supporting partner in the publication of numerous statistical, research and liability reports. Currently, Allstate Canada is the National Sponsor of the 2011-2012 School Assembly Program, Title Sponsor of Project Red Ribbon and Official Sponsor of Campaign 911.

About MADD Canada

MADD Canada (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) is a national, charitable organization that is committed to stopping impaired driving and supporting the victims of this violent crime. With volunteer-driven groups in more than 100 communities across Canada, MADD Canada aims to offer support services to victims, heighten awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and save lives and prevent injuries on our roads. For more information, visit www.madd.ca.

About Allstate Insurance Company of Canada

Allstate Insurance Company of Canada is one of Canada's leading producers and distributors of home and auto insurance products. "The Good Hands Network®" enables consumers to contact Allstate Canada through one of 92 community-based Agencies, directly online at www.allstate.ca and through the Customer Contact Centre at 1-800-Allstate. Allstate Canada is committed to making a positive difference in the communities in which it operates and has partnered with organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD Canada), Crime Stoppers, United Way and Junior Achievement. In 2010, Allstate Canada, in partnership with the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA), created the Allstate All-Canadians program, a mentorship program designed to guide the next generation of Canada's hockey youth. Learn more about this program at www.allcanadians.com. To learn more about Allstate Canada, visit www.goodhandsadvice.ca or www.allstate.ca.

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