As was noted on the front page of The Pilot this week, a 61-year-old driver from Lewisporte was charged not just once, but twice in the same evening with impaired driving.
The RCMP was alerted of the potential for the driver to be impaired. Imagine if the person who suspected/or knew that this person was impaired did nothing. Imagine further what the consequences could have been if he had continued on driving throughout the evening in an impaired state.
How many times have you noticed someone driving erratically or in an unusual manner and thought something just wasn’t right? Did you pick up the phone and contact the police? If you didn’t, did it nag at you afterwards, leaving you to wonder if that person was in fact impaired?
This is one instance of where an impaired driver made the news locally, but the fact is that for the most part, we aren’t even aware of when impaired drivers are charged. Take a trip into the courthouse in Gander on a first appearance day and you will be surprised to find that this area has its fair share of drivers who have been charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Impaired driving is a problem, and it is an issue ever time you get in a vehicle to run to the store, to pick up your children from hockey practice, or go to visit with friends. You may be in control and responsible behind the wheel, but it is the other driver you have to worry about. How do you know they are abiding by the law and not driving while impaired? You don’t, but if you suspect it then you need to do something about it. Contact the RCMP. Let them check into it and deal with it accordingly for your own protection and the protection of your family, friends and neighbours who share our roads.
— Karen Wells
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