The “Ride’s On Us” service initially began as a pilot program for the Weyburn Police Service, and has met with so much success and positive support it will now be extended again until August, providing free rides to those who have been drinking alcohol at licensed establishments, or at large private functions.
Police Chief Marlo Pritchard said the program has not only met with a very positive response, but the police department’s statistics bear out that the program is working.
The “Ride’s On Us” program will provide a free taxi ride home if someone at a function or an establishment voluntarily turns over their keys rather than drive home.
The police are working on the possibility to expand that to include a free delivery of the person’s vehicle along with the ride, said the police chief. Up until now, people who want their vehicle driven home could negotiate a price with the taxi company.
“We’re hoping to expand the program to include having the vehicle driven home,” he said, estimating it will take a few weeks to finish making these arrangements.
On average, about 20 to 25 people a month are using the “Ride’s On Us” program, said the chief, although it was a bit slower in February.
“We’re seeing a great uptake of this program, as we’re seeing more and more vehicles parked at establishments overnight,” he noted.
Comparing statistics of charges laid for impaired driving with past years, this program is having a very definite impact in reducing these charges in Weyburn, said the police chief.
The number of charges in 2015 and 2016 were staying fairly high, and in 2017 the number of impaired charges was trending upwards again until this program was introduced in August of last year.
In the period from August to January of this year, impaired driving charges are down by 50 per cent for the same period a year ago, and down by 45 per cent from that period two years ago. Another indicator is that calls to the “Report Impaired Drivers” tips line are down by nine and 12 per cent respectively from the past two years.
“We did high-visibility stop-checks, which we’ve always done, but we also did some positive ticketing, which we haven’t done before,” said Chief Pritchard. “We’re seeing some significant changes in the region.”
Once the program is wrapped up for one full year, they will review the numbers again and compare with past years to see if the impact is a lasting and real one in Weyburn and area, he added.
The program has been welcomed by all establishments in Weyburn, said the chief, and they have also been approached by organizers of private functions, which was a development the police service didn’t foresee happening.
The request to include a large function, such as a cabaret or a wedding or other large supper where alcohol is served came from the community, and the police department have been providing the service because it meets their overall goal of reducing impaired driving.
“We have to look at each function. When a request comes in, we provide a package, and there’s a pledge sheet you have to sign. We give them the forms, some advertising posters and the vouchers for the taxi rides,” he said, noting there has to be some advance notice of an event, and they will even consider requests from small private functions such as a birthday party or a retirement supper if there is alcohol being served at it.
The police department are aware of some functions coming up this spring that they have been requested to provide the taxi rides for, and the response from the public and from establishments has been very positive thus far.
“The community is saying this is a great opportunity to get people home safely. It’s being well-received, and we’ve had positive responses from businesses as well,” said Chief Pritchard.
