In Yellowknife, victim of drunk driving hit starts drive-home business

A woman who was hit by a drunk driver two years ago says the experience has motivated her to start a new business meant to curb drunk driving in Yellowknife.

Shemaiah Ford and two friends have launched Yellowknife Designated Drivers, a business that charges $25 to pick up people who are too impaired to drive and deliver their vehicles home.

"We're just wanting to provide a safe alternative so you can do those things without having to worry about your vehicle freezing over night, or having to pay two cab fares," says Ford, a manager for the company.

"It's not always planned when you go out that you will have an alcoholic beverage."

NWT has highest impaired driving rate in country

With temperatures dipping well below freezing most of the year, Ford says people are often reluctant to leave their vehicles downtown.

The Northwest Territories also has the highest police-recorded rate of impaired driving in the country, according to estimates from Statistics Canada.

"The more options they have, the less excuses they have and the more people are going to get home safely," says Michele Thoms, the teacher advisor to St. Patrick High School's Students Against Drinking and Driving group.