Agglomération de Longueuil's Police Service and MADD Canada Launch New 911 Program To Report Impaired Drivers
OAKVILLE, ON--(Marketwired - December 13, 2017) - Agglomération de Longueuil's Police Service (SPAL) and MADD Canada are pleased to announce a new awareness program that enlists the public's help to identify impaired drivers.
Messaging that encourages motorists and other citizens to report suspected impaired drivers by calling 911 is appearing on digital message boards around the community now. When a vehicle/driver is reported, SPAL will attempt to locate, observe and stop the vehicle. In cases where police are not able to intercept the vehicle, a letter will be sent to the registered vehicle owner indicating the car was reported in relation to a suspected impaired driving incident. If the same vehicle is reported a second time, SPAL will visit the owner to discuss the reports.
This new campaign by SPAL is the first 911 program of its kind in Quebec.
"Impaired driving kills hundreds of people and injures tens of thousands every year," said Marie Claude Morin, MADD Canada Chapter Services Manager for Quebec Region. "We all have a role to play in keeping our roads safe. Calling 911 if we see a suspected impaired driver is a critical way to assist police in getting impaired drivers off our roads."
The initiative is based on MADD Canada's Campaign 911 program which was launched in 2007. MADD Canada and its Chapters and Community Leaders have worked with local and regional police and municipalities to deliver the Campaign 911 message, and to inform the public about the possible signs of an impaired driver, tips on what to do and road safety reminders. For more information, visit: http://madd.ca/pages/programs/awareness-campaigns/campaign-911/
"We want to thank SPAL for its leadership," said Ms. Morin. "Similar programs in other provinces and communities have been effective at catching impaired drivers. We believe this program will reduce impaired driving and improve road safety in their community."
One of the key benefits of Call 911 programs is the emphasis they place on the emergency nature of impaired driving. Some people may think that impaired driving is not an emergency and therefore not a valid reason to call 911. Call 911 programs reinforce the message that impaired driving truly is an emergency and calling 911 can help police take a driver off the road before he or she causes a crash that could kill or injure someone.
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