Province Encouraged by Public Response to Campaign 911

One year after the launch of Campaign 911, Nova Scotians are continuing to help keep the province's roads safe by reporting suspected impaired drivers.

"Nova Scotians deserve to have their roads free of impaired drivers," said Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Bill Estabrooks. "With the help of our citizens, Campaign 911 has proven to be a great tool in the fight against impaired driving."

The province and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) launched Campaign 911 in December 2009. Since that time, police agencies and RCMP have noticed a dramatic increase in calls from the public reporting suspected impaired drivers. Forty per cent of impaired driving incidents investigated by Halifax Regional Police in the last year were called in by concerned citizens.

"Halifax Regional Police are encouraged by the number of citizens playing a role in keeping our roads and communities safe. By taking the time to report suspected impaired drivers, citizens are sending a strong message that impaired driving is not socially acceptable and will not be tolerated," says Chief Frank Beazley.

Campaign 911 is a nationwide campaign that encourages and empowers citizens to report suspected drivers by calling 911. Impaired driving kills about 22 Nova Scotians each year.

"MADD Canada is extremely pleased that Nova Scotians have shown their support of this program by making that 911 call, said Margaret Miller, past president of MADD Canada. "It's about every voice and every call making a difference. It's about saving lives and preventing injury."

The province has taken important steps through legislation, education and enforcement to get impaired drivers off Nova Scotia roads including the Alcohol Ignition Interlock Program, Operation Christmas and increased penalties for those who drive with a blood alcohol level between point-zero-five and point-zero-eight.