Volunteers with Prince George’s holiday safe ride service still need to double their volunteer numbers in order to be ready for their biggest night of the year.
Andrea Johnson of Operation Red Nose said the service needs to recruit 60 more people to their driver teams over the next nine days.
“As we prepare for our final weekend of 2017, we only have 20 volunteer teams lined up for New Year's Eve,” Johnson said.
“We’d love to have at least double that - 20 more teams of three - to keep up with the huge demand we expect from party-goers.”
Operation Red Nose is a volunteer-based safe ride service available during the busy holiday party season. The service delivers both passengers and vehicles home and is organized by the Rotary Club of Prince George - Nechako, in partnership with ICBC and the Prince George RCMP.
Last year, the service delivered 173 safe rides on New Year’s Eve. In 2010, the service managed to deliver 273 safe rides home with the help of 35 road teams.
Johnson said that demand for rides on New Year’s Eve is highest between 12:30 a.m. and 3 a.m. Phone lines are kept open until 4 a.m.
So far this month, 234 Prince George residents have volunteered during weekends and have helped deliver 606 safe rides home. Last Friday, 18 teams delivered 95 rides while on Saturday, 26 teams gave 151 rides home.
Operation Red Nose will be taking a break during the Christmas weekend but will return on Dec. 29, 30 and 31st.
Those interested in volunteering on New Year’s Eve are encouraged to submit their application online at ornpg.ca. Applications can be printed off and dropped off at the Prince George RCMP detachment downtown by Friday to ensure criminal record checks are approved on time. Volunteers must be 19 years old and have a valid driver’s license.
Individuals looking for a safe ride home on New Year’s can call 250-962-7433 between 9 p.m. – 4 a.m.
