Tragedy inspires desire to keep community roads safe

 

By Julia Wade

People pursuing a good time at Mangawhai’s restaurants and bars have made good use of a transport service set up last Labour Day. DAD Mangawhai (aka Dial-A-Driver) owner-operator, Amanda Organ, has been connected to ‘our little piece of paradise’ for over 30 years and has lived in Mangawhai for the last six.

Her dream of wanting to run her own business was inspired by the recent growth of the area and a desire to keep people safe after a young man she was ‘house mum’ to was involved in a hit-and-run incident while making his way home from a late night party. “He had no other option one night… he and his family are still struggling with the consequences seven years on,” she says.

“I’ve watched our community grow, and with growth comes more people, more events, more drinking and driving and a need for safety and options and I felt it was time to do this.” Organ says the service has just recently slowed down after an eventful holiday season of transporting party-goers from New Year’s celebrations including Northern Bass, private gatherings, concerts at Mangawhai Tavern as well as Matakana Country Park music festivals.

“With increased checkpoints people were booking last minute drivers. It became a little hectic at times but with a deep breath we managed to get everybody home safely,” she says. “We are now at a comfortable pace of catering to our regular local wine and diners, family BBQ's, Music in the Vines, weddings and dances.” Since operating, the service has been welcomed by locals and visitors out to enjoy a drink without the worry of getting themselves and their car safely home. Organ says the service is particularly popular with patrons at Mangawhai Tavern and families attending Saturday afternoon’s Music in the Vines at Te Whai Wines.

“We have a high volume of the older social set that love to wine, dine and have a great time. We love these people, they make our job fun, they’re always happy, great to take home and the conversations are priceless,” she says. “It’s also great to pick up a young family, mum, dad and the children. These people are precious as well as they are setting good ground rules for their children in the future – NO drink driving.” Along with other available public transportations, including a courtesy van from Mangawhai Tavern and The Club, licensed local passenger service Buzz Me and Leabourns shuttle service, DAD contributed to make the populated summertime Mangawhai streets just that much safer.

“I am pleased to say that I feel it has been a successful service introduced to Mangawhai and surrounding areas. It is great to see that people are realising it is just not worth the risk of drinking and driving today.”  

 To contact DAD (DialA-Driver) Mangawhai, phone 022 632 2393, @DADdialadriver, daddialadriver@gmail. com or check them out on Facebook.