Obstacle Course

Best Practice:

Selkirk Town Detachment conducted an unconventional project involving two teens who drove an obstacle course sober and then again while impaired.

The experiment took place in a controlled environment, using dual-control cars and an obstacle course set up by the RCMP. The impaired performances of the two teens served as a poignant lesson on the dangers of drinking and driving. The experiment was taped by Videon and made into an educational video that was shown on Cop Talk Live, a Videon cable show. The video, aimed at educating high school kids, was later shown at the national conferences of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The innovative experiment was well received by the community and has been embraced on an international scope. Gateway Safety Net Publications, a 33-year-old company that develops children's safety programs across North America, presented the members of RCMP Selkirk Town Detachment with a Community Safety Initiative Leadership Award, in recognition of this initiative.

The project is aimed at educating and reducing impaired driving among youth. It benefits not only the town of Selkirk, but can have a provincial and national thrust in our anti-drinking campaign.

NOTE: Contract Policing Branch, National Headquarters, sought the opinion of Legal Services, RCMP, as to whether the Force could legally have someone drive impaired. The response was that it was legal in this situation because the old air strip which was used for the test was not accessible to the public. It could not be done in a public place. Before such a project is carried out, the approval of the provincial justice department should be obtained. While this project is approved as a best practice, it could have implications if not conducted properly. (Contract Policing Branch, National Headquarters)

Cst. Sue Downs and Cst. John Montgomery
Selkirk Municipal Detachment, "D" Division
(204) 482-6877
Selkirk Municipal Detachment
310 Christie Avenue
Selkirk, Manitoba
R1A 2L6