In the News

Calgarians reporting more suspected drunk drivers
By Jenna McMurray
Calgary Sun
March 3, 2010

Calgarians seem to be getting the message about the importance of reporting suspected drunk drivers, with a large spike in calls in the last few months, city cops say.

The first three months of Campaign 911, launched by Mothers Against Drunk Driving in partnership with police and other agencies to improve road safety, prompted a 30% increase in calls from Calgarians reporting suspected impaired drivers.

Now MADD is hoping to expand the campaign to the rest of the province.

Denise Dubyk, spokeswoman for the Calgary chapter of MADD, said following the October 2009 launch of Campaign 911, calls jumped significantly over three months when compared with the same time frame in 2008.

“We’re really, really pleased the community is taking ownership of this program,” she said of the campaign, which saw road signs erected around the city urging Calgarians to call 911 and report suspected impaired drivers to police, who then follow up on the calls and if necessary, issue charges.

A comprehensive overview of the program’s progress — including the number of arrests and charges, which aren’t yet compiled — will be released in the weeks to come, said Staff Sgt. Greg Cooper of the traffic unit.

He confirmed the number of calls regarding suspected impaired drivers jumped in the last quarter of 2009 and said he is “absolutely” impressed with and encouraged by the results of the program so far.

“Our early indications are we’ve experienced an increase in calls and that shows Calgarians are responding,” he said.

Dubyk said MADD is looking to expand the program across Alberta in the coming months based on the initial success in Calgary.

Cooper said growing the program within Calgary by adding more signs is also a possibility.

MADD, 911 operators, and members of the Calgary police, Alberta Health Services, and the City of Calgary meet monthly to discuss the campaign’s progress.