Operation Red Nose continues tonight and tomorrow night with rides available from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Call (250) 962-7433. Citizen reporter and Prince George newcomer Samantha Wright Allen has been volunteering with some of her newsroom colleagues and gives some advice below for clients calling in to get a ride home.
As a rookie resident, driving to the far reaches of the city until 3 a.m. seemed like a good way to get acquainted with Prince George. And promoting a culture that encourages a safe alternative to drunk driving sure doesn't hurt either.
So, when the Citizen's cohort of Operation Red Nose volunteers called, I consented to having my rubber arm twisted.
After all, what's a new girl to do? I'm not exactly piling on the party plans. And if I'm not going to your house party on a Friday, I might as well pick you up from it.
But I, like many of the hundred-odd clients ORN takes home each night, had a few questions about what goes on in the wee hours of the morning with the reindeer-inspired operation.
So here are some of the things I've learned in the first three weeks I've stretched the city limits in your cars:
- Up-to-date plates
By far and away, the biggest reason we have to refuse rides is because you've let your plates expire or they're from a different province.
We can't put foot to pedal if we're not covered by insurance. Also, contrary to one couple's argument this year, just because you promise you have them at home doesn't mean we can take that risk.
- Seatbelts required
I'm not your mom, but I will make you buckle up. It's that pesky insurance thing. Risk your life when I'm not in the car, thank you.
- ORN is not a taxi service
No car, no service. As far as I know, shirts and shoes are not required. If your friend needs a drop-off, they're getting let off first because we can't take them in the host car. So if you're not a numbers person, that means at least one seat belt needs to be free for your friendly volunteer driver.
- Call ahead
If you're calling after midnight, or really any time on New Years, expect a bit of a wait, so get acquainted with your inner party-pooper clock and call for your pick up ahead.
And sorry, Operation Red Nose is not a restaurant, no bookings for set times. It's on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Call once, call often
Are you a bar-star? No problem. You can call twice in a night and we'll take you from one party to the next and come back to drive your danced-out self safely home.
- It's OK to cancel, but...
If your party picked-up just after you got of the phone with the friendly ORN operator, or you just have to stay for that next rockin' tune, don't worry about it. But, please call back to cancel. The two minutes saved looking for you in a sea of stumbling bodies means we're that much closer to the next client in the queue.
- Have your phone nearby
We'll call ahead to let you know we're on our way, or when we're trying to find you in said sea of stumbling bodies. And if we don't hear from you, we'll come looking so pay close attention to the next tip.
- Keep it PG, please
Remember how you gave us your vehicle information? That means we have a rough idea of what car to look for in a given parking lot. Volunteers are very aware of the possibility of people passing out in frigid temperatures, so we will shamelessly peer into your untinted windows.
So if you're feeling frisky, make sure to wrap up the back seat party before we arrive - or better yet save that kind of heat for your house instead.
- Your ride is assigned
Don't fight someone for an Operation Red Nose ride. We're often called to the same location, so even if you're convinced I'm your guy, in this case I know more than you. When you call in, you give the operator your name, number, address and the make of your vehicle. The volunteers know who they're coming for, so there *should* be no confusion.
In a manner of speaking, you need to dance with the one who called you. Dance, being drive, of course. You really don't need to resort to fisticuffs; if you've called, we're coming.
- Back seat drivers welcome
You know your car, so pipe up. This is the first time we've sat in your moving throne, so we'll welcome a crash course on its quirks.
Also, you know your route home, so tell us the secret turns and the best way to get there.
But, please be patient. We might drive a little slower or if you have a standard, rev the engine a little louder than you'd like - every sweet spot is different, after all.
- City limits
We are content to criss-cross the city with abandon to get you safely home, but there are some (outer)limits. Hixon, for example, is a tad too far. It would take one of the teams out of commission for a couple hours.
- Get friendly
Spice up our evening with some stories of your night's shenanigans. Operation Red Nose is a confidential service, so you can be sure your confessions stay in that car.
- Give what you can
Or don't give at all. While donations are gratefully accepted - all money raised goes back into the community - the point of the nine-night winter season extravaganza is to get people who are drinking off the roads. We're just happy to get your call.
However if you have the money, you might want to pay enough so your partner doesn't call you out while the volunteer awkwardly feigns loss of hearing. You can ask for a receipt for your charitable donation.
Only have change? Don't worry about it. Coins can add up.
- Ask how you can volunteer
If all this sounds interesting, there's still time to volunteer on the busiest night of the year. On New Year's Eve some 40 to 45 teams will be buzzing around the city until well after the call centre closes at 4 a.m. Volunteers can sign up at www.ornpg.ca, but should do it soon to get a criminal record check cleared.
- Giving thanks goes both ways
People have been so kind, so grateful... so Canadian whenever my red shirt shows up at their doorstep. And you're welcome. I don't mind a little ego boost, but I'm really not that great. I'm just one person out of more than 70 volunteers on a given night, who like you, has recognized that drinking and driving needs to be a thing of the past.
