The Weyburn Police Service wanted to try something different to address the chronic issue of impaired driving, and came up with an idea that has caught the interest of many in the community, and from a wide area outside of Weyburn as well.
The initiative, which will be a two-month pilot project starting on Thursday, Aug. 31, will offer patrons of liquor establishments the option of voluntarily giving up the keys for their vehicle, and in turn they will be given a free taxi ride home.
The city police have enlisted the cooperation of the taxi companies in Weyburn, and most of the drinking establishments as well, with the added bonus that those who voluntarily turn over their keys will have their names entered into a draw for prizes.
As this is a first for Weyburn, and so far is the only program of its kind in the province, there is a lot of interest from media outlets throughout the province, so other communities and other police agencies will be watching to see how it works here, and what kind of community support there will be for this initiative.
One of the main goals for this initiative, other than reducing the numbers of impaired drivers in the community, is to raise awareness about this issue and get people talking about it — and Chief Marlo Pritchard is happy there is attention being paid to the initiative, because this is being talked about, and is gaining much support from many in the community as they have commented back to the police verbally and through social media that this is a good idea.
What has caught people’s imaginations, and their support, is that this is a positive idea to put forward a way for people not to drive home after they’ve been drinking. The numbers of people being charged with impaired driving has been staying steady, which is to say they are not improving or getting worse — but the goal is to reduce the numbers as much as possible.
Saskatchewan remains as one of the worst provinces in Canada for impaired driving, and for the numbers of people killed or injured in accidents as a result. This needs to change, in a major way, and this may be one way to help do that, and to get people talking about it. Where in the past, the excuse was often made that other options to driving home were not readily available in Weyburn, this removes that excuse as a viable option is put forward, to get a free ride home. It will be a very good thing for all concerned if this initiative can succeed and make our roads and highways safer. — Greg Nikkel
