Sign puts spotlight on drunk drivers
By Lisa Tallyn
Georgetown Independent & Free Press
March 2, 2009

Halton Regional Police (HRPS) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are hoping a recently launched program will get the message out to motorists that drunk drivers are sharing their roads and they should call police if they see a driver they suspect is impaired.

The HRPS/MADD 911 Variable Message Sign program utilizes an illuminated sign and trailer that will be taken out to scenes of impaired driving crashes, impaired arrests and RIDE programs.

The message on the sign will be specific to the circumstances of each incident, however, no names will be displayed.

With impaired driving being the number one criminal cause of death in Canada, Halton Police rely heavily on concerned citizens recognizing the signs of an impaired driver and reporting any suspected impaired drivers immediately by calling 911, said Sgt. Derek Davis.

“Our ability to effectively apprehend impaired driving offenders is directly linked to the community support we receive,” said Davis.

The sign was placed earlier in the week on Sinclair Ave. near Duncan Dr. where police recently made an impaired driving arrest. The driver had more than 2.5 times the legal limit of alcohol.

Davis said so far this year there have been nine drunk driving arrests in Halton Hills and 12 in Milton.
He said those charged are all ages and both male and female.

“The drunk driver is using the same roads that we and our families use. Drivers are encouraged to report impaired drivers immediately by calling 911. Road safety is the responsibility of all road users,” said Davis.

Davis encourages everyone go the MADD Halton website at www.maddhalton.org/ to see the 10 signs of a drunk driver which can be found under the Campaign 911 heading.

Chris Borak, President of MADD Halton, said, with the number of impaired cases rising drastically in Halton, “we are fortunate to have a police service as open to prevention and awareness as they are to enforcement.”

“We are glad to partner with the police service by donating the variable message sign,” said Borak.
He said MADD hopes its “message will be better heard by displaying them in people’s neighbourhoods, on their commuter routes, or near the park where they walk their dog.”

“We hope that more people will call 911 if they suspect an impaired driver, and that less people choose to risk driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol,” said Borak.