The Estevan chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving has installed signs around the city that mark where impaired drivers have been apprehended.
The signs were installed Saturday. Connie Hagel, who is the volunteer co-ordinator for the MADD chapter in Estevan, said 10 signs were installed, but one sign, located at the intersection of Fourth Street and 12th Avenue, was stolen.
Hagel said it was disappointing to find out that someone took the sign, but she can order more.
Signs are in the spots where impaired drivers were arrested most recently. While most of the signs are located in high-traffic areas, such as along Highway 47 in the north city limits, and on Fourth Street, 13th Avenue and King Street, there are also signs in residential areas, including the eastern half of Fifth Street, a block of Second Street, and the intersection of Souris Avenue South and Valley Street.
“I have heard a lot of positive feedback from all of these,” said Hagel. “It’s a unique thing that we’re doing. No other MADD chapters are doing that sort of thing, and I just wanted to do something different for awareness. It sounds like it has exploded.”
These signs serve as a good reminder that impaired drivers are being caught, she said. If people have a few drinks and then decide to go out and grab a snack, and they see that impaired driver sign in a neighbouring yard or boulevard, it might cause them to think twice.
Those signs will stay up for a month, and then Police Chief Paul Ladouceur will give her 10 new locations to post the signs.
“My ultimate goal is that I don’t have to put any signs anywhere, so that means there would not be any impaired drivers caught that month,” said Hagel.
And if there aren’t any impaired drivers caught, those signs would remain in the same place for the next month.
“I still want people to know that impaired drivers are being caught, and where they’re being caught.”
