Loss drives Lou and Linda Van de Vorst's advocacy.
They have worked tirelessly against impaired driving since their son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren died in a January 2016 collision. Their efforts have also mirrored a general decline in impaired driving fatalities over the last decade, with 21 deaths last year marking the lowest number on record, according to Saskatchewan Government Insurance.
In a conversation that's been edited for length and clarity, the Van de Vorsts reflected on their work advocating for safe driving practices.
Q: How has impaired driving advocacy affected Saskatchewan?
Linda: We’ve seen an impact with the younger kids (in elementary and high school). ... Hopefully, in those groups you have someone, or a couple that are strong (enough) to say, “Hey, we’re going to be the designated drivers tonight.”
Lou: It’s all about personal choice, really. It’s about being responsible and realizing it’s not acceptable anymore to drink and drive.
Q: Looking back, what advice would you give yourselves?
Linda: It hurts. Any kind of presentation that we do brings us back to Jan. 3, 2016 (early) in the morning. Every single presentation brings us back to that time when that phone rings and the police officer is coming into our house to tell us the news. That’s the driving force behind us: that no one else gets that phone call or that knock on the door.
Lou: Before my son died, I can honestly say you don’t think about that too much. But once you’re involved in that, ... you feel (others') pain because you know what it is.
Linda: You’ll never get them back. You just can’t forget it. It’s there. You want them and you can’t have them. We do this so other people will take a thought to say, “I’ve got grandchildren, I’ve got a mom and dad. I don’t want to lose them.”
Lou: We don’t want anybody else to feel that. … There’s been 21 (deaths) in 2019, 21 families who’ve lost somebody. That’s enough. There shouldn’t be any more.
Q: What should everyone keep in mind during the holidays?
Lou: Before you leave your house, before you take that first drink, know how you’re going to get home. Once you have that first drink, then your judgment is clouded. Plan it before you leave your house. Have a backup plan in case the first plan doesn’t work.
Talk to people about picking you up. Make sure you arrange a cab before you leave your house, not when you’re at the party and you’re half drunk and you can’t get a cab.
There’s always consequences to what your decisions are, whether it’s a good decision or a bad decision. Either you’re going to go to jail for killing somebody or you’re going to get home safely. Or you might kill yourself and your family has to deal with you being gone. Have a plan, have a backup plan.
Linda: Let's make sure (what) we’re choosing is not going to affect anybody else in a bad way.
