“Safe Roads…Your Call” Effective in Combating Impaired Driving in Halton

In June 2009, the Region of Halton the Halton Regional Police Service, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) introduced Safe Roads …Your Call in an effort to educate motorists of the dangers of drinking and driving, and encourage them to call 9-1-1 immediately to report suspected impaired drivers on area roads.

While still in its early days, preliminary summer results indicate the Safe Roads…Your Call campaign is a success. Halton residents play a vital role with police to combat impaired driving. In July and August, 9-1-1 operators received 155 calls, resulting in 24 impaired driving charges, and four 3-day suspensions being invoked for registering a ‘warn’ on an approved Roadside Screening Device.

As a result of public 9-1-1 calls, an additional 127 traffic-related complaints were also investigated.

“We appreciate the public’s support in helping police apprehend 24 impaired drivers, however, that number is still too high,” said Chief Gary Crowell, adding, “Initiatives such as Safe Roads…Your Call are important tools in eradicating impaired driving. The answer is simple: If you drink, don’t drive.”

Motorists should not jeopardize their own safety, or that of other motorists, to provide police with information regarding a suspected impaired driver. Motorists can call 9-1-1 from their cellular phones in an emergency. Reporting a suspected impaired driver would classify as reporting a crime in progress.

For more information about the Safe Roads…Your Call program, visit the Region of Halton website at www.halton.ca or the Halton Regional Police Service website at www.haltonpolice.ca.

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