Skip to Main Content Health Care Professionals Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube
Search

Operation Lookout

Studies show that the greatest deterrent to impaired driving is the risk of being caught. Operation lookout is a community program that encourages citizens to report impaired drivers by calling 911. The police will treat the call as a number 1 priority and will dispatch an officer to stop the impaired driver before anyone is injured. The caller’s responsibility is simply to report the vehicle. The caller can remain anonymous if he/she wishes.

HOW TO SPOT and HOW TO REPORT AN IMPAIRED DRIVER

Any suspicious driving behaviour could be a sign of an impaired driver, for example:

  • Driving unreasonably fast, slow or at inconsistent speeds
  • Slowly drifting in and out of lanes
  • Driving without headlights, failing to lower high-beams or leaving turn signals on
  • Tailgating and changing lanes frequently at excessive speeds
  • Making wide turns, changing lanes or passing with insufficient clearance
  • Overshooting, stopping well before or disregarding signals and signs
  • Approaching signals or leaving intersections too quickly or very slowly
  • Driving with windows open in cold or inclement weather
  • Stopping without cause in an live traffic lane
  • Driving in a low gear for no apparent reason or frequently grinding gears

Citizens who believe they have seen an impaired driver are encouraged to phone the police and:

  1. State that they have seen an impaired driver.
  2. State the location.
  3. Vehicle description:
    a.) Licence Plate Number
    b.) Colour
    c.) Make and Model
  4. Direction of travel
  5. Description of driver

Citizens are typically not encouraged to do any more than what is listed above. When the person reporting the incident is also a driver, they must obey the rules about not using a cell phone while driving their vehicle.

Related Resources

Related Topics