Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving

OSAID (Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving) is an anti-impaired driving initiative which is found across the province of Ontario, Canada, aimed primarily at youth involvement in combating impaired driving. It was founded in 1987 and encourages the student population to practice responsible choices and to never to drive while impaired. OSAID chapter members regularly hold awareness raising activities, such as mocktail sales or events aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of driving while impaired.

OSAID's Vision Statement: "OSAID is a provincial youth driven organization that strives to promote smart decisions through public awareness in a realistic and relevant manner to prevent tragedies caused by impaired driving."

Mission

OSAID's Mission statement: "OSAID is about teens helping teens to consider safe alternatives and new perspectives to the perceived norms about Alcohol, Illicit Drugs, and Dangerous Driving.

OSAID by the numbers:

• OSAID positively impacts over ½ million families every year
• OSAID reaches more than 300,000 students annually
• 90,000 website viewings per month
• Over the past two decades OSAID graduated over 50,000 youth leaders who are now living, working, and driving in communities throughout Canada.
• On an annual basis 5000 parents watch their teenagers grow to become OSAID leaders in their respective communities."

OSAID's website is: www.osaid.org

History

Background

In 1988 Ontario-based police, students, and teachers formed a provincial non-profit organization with one directive: to raise youth awareness about the dangers of driving when impaired. Within that first year a mailing list was established, the newsletter Connections was mailed to all Ontario high schools, the first student reps were in place and the Attorney General, Ian Scott was the special guest at the SADD Ontario Action Conference with 150 delegates in attendance.

Establishment

In 1989, the OSAID name was adopted and the Board of Directors established. The OSAID logo was designed and Matt Evans joined the organisation as coordinator. Manuals were created, the newsletter was renamed to "Lifeline", and OSAID affiliated with the Attorney General’s Countermeasures Conference in Hamilton. The number of delegates rose to 250 at the OSAID Conference, held that year at Aylmer Police College. The OSAID Conference was permanently established in the annual events calendar. The OSAID membership doubled in its first three years to over 300 schools and the numbers have increased over the years. OSAID maintains 100% involvement as one of its goals. OSAID joined with OCCID (Ontario Community Council on Impaired Driving, now ArriveAlive) in 1991. OSAID Scholarships were introduced in 1994 with the Tammy Emerton Memorial Scholarship and the tradition continues. In 2009 the Anna Pyles Memorial Scholarship, which was initiated by the IBAO in 1998 and the AVIVA Pilot Scholarships were awarded.

In 1990 regional workshops throughout Ontario begun. These continue to the present day. Planned, organised and run by the Regional Representatives, the workshops are a prime example of one of OSAID’s founding principals – peers work with their peers. The students run OSAID.

Media campaigns

OSAID’s media campaigns have included: in 1990 'Life of the Party', produced by OSAID was nominated by best short education film at Canada’s Short Film Festival. In 1996 it was selected as one of the top ten videos as a resource for educators by the Driver Education Advisory Committee. Public Service Announcements, went on the TV airwaves in 1991 for six months. The OTIP/RAEO-sponsored poster "Don’t be a Loser" went across the province. 1993 saw The Ministry of Transportation get into the poster campaigning with "Santa Rides with Deers, Not Beers". OTIP/ RAEO continued this success with their sponsorship of the "Gonna Live For Ever" poster in 1997. 1993 saw OSAID joining forces with the Attorney General D/D Countermeasures Office to offer Arrive Alive video dances in Ontario high schools. The 2009 iDrive Road Stories DVD was produced with OSAID input.

The OSAID newsletter began 'OSAID Speaks' in 2010 and is available as an online resource through the OSAID website.

2012's Meet the Challenge project, produced in partnership with the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport took place across the province.

Throughout the years, the membership, staff advisor and ambassador manuals have been developed and refined. These materials are used by members throughout the province. OSAID resources such as the 'Call Me Contract' and 'Call Me' cards continue to be popular.

See also

• Impaired driving in Canada

References

• The Healthline
• Niagara Community Information Database
• Marymount Academy, Sudbury
• Youth For Road Safety
• Ministry of Transportation
• Haldimand Norfolk Information Centre
• Information Cambridge and North Dumfries Community Services Database

External links

• Official website