MADD relaunches campaign against impaired driving

MADD Canada is relaunching an annual campaign against impaired driving by erecting signs in different communities.

Estevan, Meadow Lake, Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Regina and Moose Jaw will have signs at locations within the communities where impaired drivers were caught and criminally charged.

The signs feature messages such as “Impaired Driver Caught Here” and “Call 911.” The signs are moved to new locations every other week.

“This campaign reminds the public about the important role they play in helping police take impaired drivers off the roads, and reinforces the message that if you see a driver you suspect is impaired by alcohol or drugs, you can call 911 to report it,” said Tracy Crawford, MADD Canada’s western regional manager.

MADD Canada’s latest statistics show that in 2019, nearly 87,000 criminal charges and provincial licence suspensions were laid for impaired driving.

In Saskatchewan, 3,993 charges and suspensions were laid.

“Impaired driving continues to be a serious problem that happens at all times of day and in all communities,” Crawford said. “We believe these signs send a strong deterrent message and highlight the fact that driving impaired is just never worth the risk.

“It’s not worth having your licence suspended, it’s not worth having a criminal record (and) it’s not worth the fines and legal fees. Most importantly, it’s not worth the risk of a crash that kills or injures you or other people.”