As the long weekend approaches, York Regional Police has kicked off its Safe Roads: Your Call campaign video with a video posted on social media highlighting an impaired driving arrest made with citizen assistance.
"Every year we receive 5,000 calls to report impaired driving on our roads," the post on Twitter says. "This was one of them. Heading into the long weekend, we’re launching our Safe Roads: Your Call campaign. If you suspect an impaired driver call 9-1-1."
Every year we receive 5,000 calls to report impaired driving on our roads. This was one of them.
— York Regional Police (@YRP) May 17, 2019
Heading into the long weekend, we’re launching our Safe Roads: Your Call campaign. If you suspect an impaired driver call 9-1-1.#YourCall. #WereNotGivingUp pic.twitter.com/Vhg8eAAdrW
The video depicts an aerial view of a black Dodge Charger weaving east along Elgin Mills Road in Richmond Hill, with the voice of the 9-1-1 caller and operator detailing his progress until police made the arrest on 19th Avenue, just west of Reesor Road. According to police, the officers found an empty bottle of vodka in the vehicle and the driver had a blood-alchol level that was four times over the legal limit.
"If I can save someone from getting into an accident, it's well worth it," said the caller who exited Highway 404 to follow the driver he suspected was impaired.
"Our service has made consistent and ongoing efforts to stop impaired driving on our roads through enforcement and education, but the greatest impact in improving road safety comes from the partnership of our citizens and road users in York Region," said a York Regional Police news release.
So far in 2019, more than 1,000 calls to 9-1-1 have helped to safely remove impaired drivers from our roads, which has led to more than 600 impaired-related criminal charges being laid, according to police.
"These 9-1-1 calls have come in to us from many different sources, from others motorists, pedestrians, drive-through employees, gas station attendants, liquor store employees, neighbours, family and friends calling in to prevent potentially devastating situations. These calls save lives."
The force said it is dedicating the Safe Roads campaign to "all of our upstanding citizens who took the time to call 9-1-1 to report a suspected impaired driver."
"It should also be made clear to all those who choose to drive while impaired by drugs or alcohol that it is not only police officers who are watching for impaired drivers, our citizens also refuse to tolerate this behaviour. Impaired drivers should expect to be seen and to be caught," the release stated.
