Did you know that across Canada, over 200 people are charged with impaired driving each day, with half of them having been called in by the public? Did you also know that in the HRM, in just the month of March, 40 drivers were charged with impaired operation of a vehicle? Resulting from this devastatingly high prevalence of impaired driving, four people are killed every day in Canada by impaired drivers. Many of these are young people who were ejected from their vehicles because they were not wearing seatbelts.
Signs of an impaired driver may include:
✅ Tailgating and changing lanes frequently
✅ Quick acceleration or deceleration
✅ Almost striking an object, curb, or vehicle
✅ Stopping without cause or erratic braking
✅ Drifting in and out of traffic lanes
✅ Driving unreasonably fast, slow, or at an inconsistent speed
✅ Making exceptionally wide turns
✅ Changing lanes or passing without sufficient clearance
✅ Overshooting or stopping well before stop signs or stop lights
✅ Disregarding signals and lights
✅ Approaching signals or leaving intersections too quickly or slowly
✅ Driving without headlights, failing to lower high beams, or leaving turn signals on
✅ Driving with windows open in cold or inclement weather
✅ Driving anywhere other than on a road designated for vehicles
If you see a potential impaired driver, call 911 immediately. Provide the dispatcher with your location, along with a description of the vehicle, including the licence plate number, colour, make, and model. Additionally, inform them of the direction of travel for the vehicle and a description of the driver if possible. Your call might save a life!
