Halifax Transit offers free rides on Saturday evenings to reduce impaired driving

Tanya Hansen Pratt's mother was killed by an impaired driver in 1999 while out for a morning walk. 

In an interview from her home in Winnipeg, Hansen Pratt, who is the national president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said she urges people in Halifax to take advantage of free bus and ferry rides after 6 p.m. every Saturday until the end of the month. 

"I have to deal with that pain every single day," she said. "I don't want other people to be the cause of that for someone else's family."

Halifax Transit introduced the free service to reduce impaired driving during the holidays. Last year, Halifax police laid 47 charges for impaired driving in December alone. 

Hansen Pratt said she would like to see similar programs across the country. She believes such programs could encourage people to hop on a bus instead of reaching for their car keys. 

"If they're going to provide free transit, then that's just another tool and another reason for people to get home safely," she said. "There's really no excuse if they have a free ride home."

The free rides are sponsored by the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation and Molson Coors. 

Devon Uzabakiliho, a student at Mount Saint Vincent University, said he occasionally goes out for drinks with friends to unwind after exams. 

Many of his friends live far from the downtown area. He said it is essential to have options to move around the city at an affordable price, which is why he welcomes the free rides.

"It's always a gamble, especially with bigger groups, because nobody wants to say no and it's a bit anxiety-inducing sometimes," he said while waiting for a bus in Halifax.

Shirley Wile, a mother from Truro, was bundled up against the cold at the same transit terminal. She comes to the city every holiday season to go shopping and visit friends and family. 

Wile said she hopes the free rides help reduce impaired driving. 

"If you're drinking, get a bus, get a cab, do whatever," she said. "But there's no excuse for drinking and driving."