Justin M. Bowen

A volunteer holds STOP DUI ribbons at the base of Kyle Canyon Road and U.S. 95.

By Amanda Finnegan (contact)

Mon, Dec 1, 2008 (3:09 p.m.)

The main route to Mount Charleston is taking on a different name this month to raise awareness of drunken driving.

Members of the nonprofit group STOP DUI joined local officials Monday morning at a ceremonial ribbon-cutting at Kyle Canyon Road and U.S. 95. For the 21st year, Kyle Canyon Road -- also known as Highway 157 -- was dedicated as Red Ribbon Road for December, kicking off National Drunk and Drugged Prevention Month.

Metro Police said the 22-mile stretch of road is the only the road in the country dedicated to raising public awareness about the dangers of drunken driving.

Before the annual awareness campaign began, police said, Kyle Canyon Road was one of the most dangerous roads in the state. Since the STOP DUI campaign began, the road has had two DUI-related fatalities in the past 20 years.

Twenty-two snow poles at one-mile increments along the road will bear red ribbons to honor victims of impaired drivers.

STOP DUI executive director and victim advocate Sandy Heverly became involved with STOP DUI 25 years ago when she, her husband, four children and mother were nearly killed by a drunk driver.

She said the holiday season is an especially dangerous time on the road.

“More holiday parties mean more drinking, and unfortunately that leads to more drinking and driving,” Heverly said. “And on this roadway [Kyle Canyon Road], even under the best of circumstances, you have to have your wits about you negotiating those turns. When you start to combine that with the snow and ice, and then alcohol, it’s a disaster waiting to happen.”

STOP DUI was formed to promote awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and to assist victims of those crimes.