Halton’s ‘Project Drive Thru’ a “brilliant” idea: CPS Commander

An Ontario program, geared toward getting drunk drivers off the road, has caught the attention of local police and the Calgary chapter of MADD Canada.

Halton Regional Police, in Ontario, are equipping late night drive-thru workers with tools to identify drunk or impaired drivers, and encouraging them to contact authorities if motorists are suspected of such.

MADD Calgary board member, Denise Dubyk said the idea is more than welcome. “I think that any avenue of bringing more education and awareness about impaired driving into an area, into any community, is well worth the effort,” she said.

Calgary Police Traffic Commander, Ken Thrower told City News, “the education itself, I think, is absolutely brilliant; and something any organization could do with whatever business they’re in.”

There are no plans to implement ‘Project Drive Thru,’ or a similar program in Calgary, but any witness of an impaired driver can report it by calling 9-1-1.

“When it was brought to the city in 2009,” Dubyk said, referring to MADD Canada’s Campaign 911, “the increased calls to 9-1-1 rose to about 75 per cent, and charge rates went up about 45 percent, so it’s working.”

The underlying message is quite simple according to Thrower. “Regardless of where you are, going simply to a drive thru, you may be apprehended and that’s really what you want: the message out there,” he said. “Bottom line, just don’t do it. Don’t drink and drive. Don’t be under the influence of drugs. Just don’t be in that situation.”

Commander Thrower also pointed out celebrating with alcohol is not illegal. “[There is] nothing wrong [with] going to bars, and going to parties, and doing all those fun things,” he continued, “take a cab, get a friend to drive, just don’t get behind the wheel.”

Anyone who spots a suspected drunk or drugged driver is encouraged to call 9-1-1.

Dubyk suggested sharing as much information as possible with police when the call is made. “Of course, the location where you are; the kind of car; what the person looks like; and the license number, if you can catch it,” she said.

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