Chief urges public's help in catching drunk drivers
By Richard Leitner
Hamilton Mountain News
July 27, 2007

Chief Brian Mullan is urging the public to help police crack down on drunk driving by calling 911 if they see an impaired motorist.

Calling drinking and driving "totally unacceptable," he said finds it hard to believe some motorists aren't getting that point and continue to disregard public safety.

"There is absolutely no excuse for individuals to drink and drive," the chief said.

"It takes something as simple as pre-planning your festivities. Get a designated driver, take a taxi home, walk home. There's no excuse for getting behind that wheel when you've been drinking."

Chief Mullan made his remarks during a media scrum on Monday, following a weekend of impaired-driving incidents.

Also fresh in mind was last week's accident in Milton that killed a Rockwood couple after their car was rammed at a railway stop by a drunk driver and pushed into the path of an oncoming train.

In Hamilton, the past weekend's mishaps included one in which an impaired driver hit a motorcycle while turning into the Centre Mall shortly before 8 p.m. on Saturday, sending two people to hospital. One victim suffered a crushed pelvis.

The 42-year-old woman motorist refused to take a breath test and was driving without insurance.

Early Sunday morning, a 57-year-old male driver blew "well over" the legal alcohol limit after failing to negotiate a turn on Dunsmure Road and hitting a parked car, crashing it into a third vehicle.

And on Sunday evening, a 35-year-old man who had just been charged for driving while under suspension borrowed his sister's car to go drinking.

He later allegedly hit speeds of 100 km/h and went through two red lights on Wilson Street before losing control and hitting a hydro pole and tree by Gibson Avenue. His passenger was sent to hospital for treatment of a knee injury.

"That type of behaviour is totally unacceptable. I can't believe people have not started to catch on to this," Chief Mullan said. "We as a police service are committed to reducing the incidence of impaired driving. You will see and continue to see RIDE lanes out there," he said.

"I ask anybody who sees anybody suspected of impaired driving to please call our 911 centre and report it to us. We'll get officers there as quickly as we can to arrest and hold those individuals accountable."

Also see...

MADD Canada's Campaign 911