By Greg Nikkel
The Weyburn Police Service and their partners launched the new Impaired Driving Awareness Program on Thursday for a two-month period, with the voluntary involvement of city taxi companies and liquor establishments to provide a free ride home for patrons who have imbibed too much to drive.
Chief Marlo Pritchard had the various parties involved gather at the historic Weyburn Courthouse for the official launch, including members of the police force, SGI, MADD and representatives of the businesses which have committed to offer the program.
The program aims to reduce impaired driving by encouraging patrons to voluntarily ask for a free taxi ride home, and be willing to turn over the keys for their vehicle. The patrons will either leave their vehicle and surrender the keys for safe-keeping, or else will have a taxi provide a driver who will drive their vehicle home at an additional cost. Each patron who requests one will receive a voucher worth $10 for a one-time use, for a taxi ride. Funding for the program came from SGI and from a Crime Prevention grant.
Patrons who voluntarily take part in the program will have their names entered for a draw for a prize provided by area businesses, with a grand prize draw at the end of each month.
The patron’s keys will be kept in a sealed bag and secured at the establishment until the police retrieves them at the end of the day, and the patron can then pick up the keys the next day from the police station. The taxi ride voucher is good for a route from point A to point B. Any additional stops will be at the cost of the patron. If the taxi takes a patron out of town, the $10 value of the voucher will be used towards the final fare amount.
“It started as an initiative of the police. Const. Melinda Mintenko was the driving force behind it and has done a lot of the leg work,” said Chief Pritchard, noting the police have been able to get the commitment of several businesses in the community to partner with them for the next two months.
The concern that drove the police to find a creative approach to this issue is the increased rate of impaired driving in Weyburn. Chief Pritchard noted that from 2014 to the present time, impaired driving charges have increased by 22 per cent, “and we’d love to see those numbers drop below the 2014 numbers.”
The taxi rides will be provided by A.M.I.R. Taxi, Empire Cab and Courier Service and Country Cab, and the rides are available on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays of each weekend until Oct. 28.
The participating establishments where taxi ride vouchers are available include Detour Bar and Grill, Pump Jacks, Weyburn Golf Club, Royal Hotel, Trifons Pizza, Royal Canadian Legion, Boston Pizza, Main Track Café and Lounge, and Brothers Classic Grill and Pizza.
Const. Mintenko noted the officers were asked by Insp. Rod Stafford for any ideas on how they could help reduce the numbers of impaired drivers in Weyburn, and she came up with this idea as a good starting point.
“I’m very excited. There has been very good public feedback and in social media,” she said. “It’s nice to see people are increasing their awareness. I think it’s already a success, because people are talking about it.”
Chief Pritchard added there are a number of business partners who have provided prizes for the weekly draws, and there will be draws for a larger prize at the end of each month. York Jewelers has provided his and hers watches for a draw at the end of September, and CAA has provided a $500 travel voucher for a draw at the end of October.
The businesses which have provided prizes for the weekly draws include Great Plains Ford, Barber Motors, Pharmasave and Starbucks, Kal Tire, Tim Horton’s, Pursuit Strength and Conditioning, Mike Johnston RMT and Lyna Day Spa.
Coun. Mel Van Betuw, a member of the Weyburn Police Commission, expressed support for the new program. “I would like to thank Melinda and the chief for taking this initiative and raising the much-needed awareness of drinking and driving with this program.”
Michelle Okere, the regional manager of MADD Saskatchewan, was on hand for the launch, and said they would like to assist in helping to raise the awareness of this program and of impaired driving.
“This is an innovative approach that we haven’t seen done anywhere else,” said Okere of this program, adding she is hoping to help start a MADD chapter in Weyburn, if there is enough local interest for volunteers to organize one.
One of the programs MADD offers is a school program for Grades 7-12 that includes videos and speakers to tell students about the impact of impaired driving on families and on the community. SGI and SLGA are sponsors for this program in Saskatchewan.
