Drinking and driving made the headlines again last week when a monthly report released by Halifax police listed the number of impaired driving-related offences.
During the month of April, police laid 34 impaired driving charges while also issuing six, 24-hour license suspensions to those drivers who had a blood-alcohol level of .05 or above.
In 14 of the 40 cases, the police report credits citizens for calling in as part of Campaign 911, including one that helped police nab a woman who allegedly drove drunk while her two kids were in the car with her. Seven of the calls involved motor-vehicle collisions and 19 resulted from police traffic stops or checkpoints.
Enfield RCMP have been active in locating impaired drivers and those who have open liquor but are just passengers driven by sober drivers.
This includes a roadside checkpoint along Highway 14, in Nine Mile River on May 22, where a 30-year-old Middle Sackville man found himself in the wrong after trying to elude police. He was found to be impaired and charged after failing the road side breath test.
Campaign 911 is a program launched by Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada and the Nova Scotia government. Its aim is to encourage people to call police with information on suspected impaired drivers.
The majority of the charges relating to drunk driving laid in April by Halifax police saw 56 per cent of those involved who were under 25-years-old.
That’s a staggering number. To think so many young people actually get behind the wheel while under the influence is mind-blowing.
In this day and age, there’s been enough awareness through presentations, such as ‘Wasted’ which was given to Hants East Rural High School students May 13, that young people should be able to know that driving while under the influence is just plain wrong. No ands, ifs or buts. It’s just stupid and wrong.
With all the awareness of the heartache that drinking and driving can bring, there should be no need for groups like MADD East Hants, which serves those in Fall River to Milford. However, there continues to be a need because people don’t think ahead of time.
There are plenty of options available for people who go out to one of our liquor establishments or a party at a friend’s home to get a drive home, through either use of the two taxi services in the area or by arranging ahead of time a designated driver.
Sure people can go out and have a good time. I’m not saying they can’t.
What they need to do is remember to arrange a ride home ahead of time, so their night of fun doesn’t end in tragedy like it has for so many people, as is evident by the pictures of those killed or injured by drunk drivers on the MADD wall.
Hopefully, people continue to make use of 911 to call in suspected drunk drivers so the police can make our streets and highways safe from those who continue to disobey the law and get behind the wheel when they should be taking a taxi instead.
- Pat Healey, reporter/photographer