File photo taken outside of the LPS station in Lethbridge. (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet

Lethbridge Police joins forces with MADD to reduce impaired driving on local roads

Mar 24, 2022 | 8:52 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Police in Lethbridge have teamed up with MADD for an awareness campaign aimed at getting impaired drivers off the roads.

Officials are also encouraging the public to report suspect impaired drivers by calling 911. Starting in May, residents in Lethbridge will see mobile ‘Impaired Driver Caught Here’ signs across the city, in locations where police have apprehended impaired drivers and charged them with a Criminal Code offence or issued an Immediate Roadside Sanction.

The mobile signs are intended to show that impaired driving happens in all areas of the community.

(Photo supplied by the Lethbridge Police Service)

Altogether, the campaign is a partnership between the Lethbridge Police Service (LPS), MADD Canada, the local chapter of MADD and the Government of Alberta.

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Anita Huchala, President of MADD Lethbridge and Area Chapter said, “impaired driving can and does happen anywhere. These signs will bring awareness to the public that an impaired driver was caught possibly close to their work, school or even in their neighborhood.”

“Making that call to 911 if you suspect an impaired driver could save a life or prevent someone from being injured in an impaired crash.”

The signs will be shifted to new locations every other week based on any new impaired driving charges. More details on the locations are available through the Lethbridge chapter of MADD’s website under the ‘Mobile 911 Sign Program’ section.

Lethbridge is the first city in Alberta to adopt the program, after it was initially launched in Saskatchewan.

Acting Sergeant with the LPS Brent Paxman of the Traffic Response Unit said, “the Lethbridge Police Service is committed to ensuring our streets are safe for everyone.”

“We appreciate our partners like MADD, who highlight the impact impaired driving can have on our community and the significant risk to public safety they pose, and encourages other drivers to report suspected impaired drivers they might encounter, when safe to do.”

The LPS noted that every hour in Canada, an average of 10 Criminal Code charges or short-term license suspensions are laid for alcohol or drug-impaired driving.

In 2021, the LPS charged 272 people with impaired driving or Immediate Roadside Sanction (IRS) Fails, compared to 293 in 2020, and 422 in 2019. Between January 1, 2022 and February 14, 2022, police in the city issued 15 IRS Fails and one Criminal Code charge for impaired driving.

Residents are encouraged to never drive while impaired, plan for a sober ride home, never accept a ride from a driver who may be impaired and to call 911 if they see a motorist they suspect is impaired.