It’s go time for checkstop.
The Winnipeg Police Service and Manitoba RCMP launched the December-long effort to get impaired drivers off the road Friday, and will be joining forces Saturday — National Impaired Driving Enforcement Day — with traffic checkpoints in and around the city.
“We want people to be able to be on the road and be safe, and we want people to be able to go home to their families,” Manitoba RCMP traffic services Insp. Joe Telus said at a joint checkstop near Roblin Boulevard and the Perimeter Highway.
BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES The Winnipeg Police Service and Manitoba RCMP will be conducting checkstops throughout December in an effort to get impaired drivers off the road.
So far this year, impaired driving has caused 15 deaths and has led to 35 serious-injury collisions in the RCMP’s jurisdiction in Manitoba.
“We still have that problem with impaired driving, so we have to continue providing that message to everybody,” Telus said. “And we don’t get them all. We cannot be everywhere all the time.”
WPS traffic unit Insp. Doug Roxburgh said Operation Red Nose, which connects volunteer drivers to people in need of a safe ride home during the holiday season, is a great way to keep everyone safe.
“If you know you’re going to go out and participate in festivities, and you’re going to be consuming intoxicants… have a plan on how you’re going to get home,” Roxburgh said.
Sharra Hinton, a co-ordinator at Operation Red Nose, said as Christmas gets closer, the number of people looking for a ride is going to increase.
“We’re out there helping keep the road safe. We want people to enjoy the holidays and have fun with their family and their friends, and we want to make sure that everybody gets home safe and sound,” Hinton said.
With about 300 volunteers, Hinton said there’s enough people to run the operation this year.
“We’re always looking for more volunteers, more people to come and help us, so we’re never going to turn anyone away,” she said.
The program started on Nov. 25, and so far, things have been quiet. There will be 45 drivers out each night this weekend, and the number will jump to about 75 next weekend, she said.
People interested in volunteering for Operation Red Nose Winnipeg can visit its website and fill out an application.
With new drivers on the road each year, Telus and Roxburgh said it’s important to continually repeat the message of safe driving.
“We have to be a consistent presence to change behaviour,” said Roxburgh said.
