Members of MADD Prince Albert were joined by local dignitaries and members of Parkland Ambulance and Prince Albert Police to kick off the 2025 smashed car campaign on May 10, 2025. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

By Logan Lehmann

Impaired Driving

MADD P.A. renews risks of impaired driving as smashed car campaign returns for fourth year

May 10, 2025 | 4:08 PM

Prince Albert’s chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is reminding motorists to drive sober this summer as the organization kicked off its annual smashed car campaign.

On Saturday, members of MADD Prince Albert were joined alongside local dignitaries and personnel from Parkland Ambulance and the Prince Albert Police Service where they gathered in front of an overturned pickup truck along the northbound lanes of Highway 2, near the Prince Albert RCMP detachment.

This overturned truck will sit along Highway 2 north until mid-July, when its moved to Highway 2 south near the newly built R.M. of Prince Albert building, pending approval. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

The location is the first of two where the truck will be displayed, which serves as a symbol and a reminder about the consequences of impaired driving.

“We are looking to save lives, we are looking to prevent tragedies, we’re looking to eliminate any grief and anything that goes along with it,” said Karen Anthony-Burns, a director of MADD Prince Albert. “We want everybody to rethink how they make their plans for an evening out, and we want them to think ahead because when you think ahead and you plan ahead, you’re not leaving it till the last minute when you’ve had a few drinks and then ‘Gee, can I drive or not?’”

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Drivers around the city may have noticed MADD’s signs along roadways in the city, highlighting the spot where an impaired driver has been caught. According to Anthony-Burns, there are 105 of those signs posted around the city, something she calls unimpressive.

“I believe that’s up from the previous year, we want it to go down. It would be great if we didn’t have to do this at all.”

During Saturday’s ceremony, Prince Albert Mayor Bill Powalinsky was joined by his dog, Abby, where he shared a story of his own near-death experience as a victim in an impaired driving accident. He said the accident happened on Sept. 11, 2021, explaining it nearly took his life and almost forced the amputation of one of his legs.

Upon hearing that story, Anthony-Burns was emotional as Sept. 11 was her son Daniel’s birthday, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2010. She added that it reminded her that impaired driving is a choice, and not something that just happens naturally.

“I said to him, that’s the date of my son’s birthday. As much as we think [impaired driving] is ending, and a lot of people are making good choices don’t get me wrong, but there are still some of those [that drive impaired] and what they do impacts innocent people who have to live with injuries, who have to live with grief.”

A director of MADD Prince Albert’s chapter Karen Anthony-Burns speaks with Prince Albert Mayor Bill Powalinsky following the kick off of P.A.’s smashed car campaign. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

She continued that it’s not just the friends and families that are affected, but the people who witnessed the crime and the first responders are also affected too.

“They live with that for years, and that was very significant because it took us three years to get to trial and those people came back after that time, and you could see how visibly shaken they still were,” she said, referring to Daniel’s case.

The smashed car will be displayed along Highway 2 until mid-July before being moved south of the city along Highway 2 south, near the newly constructed R.M. of Prince Albert building, pending approval.

Anthony-Burns added that this will be the final year they use the overturned white truck for their campaign, as the vehicle has been used for the last three years and is starting to suffer from being moved around from place to place.

“We’re hoping they’re able to move it to a new location. We’ll probably work with SGI on getting a replacement vehicle for next year.”

32 people die every year on Saskatchewan roadways because of impaired driving. In 2023, SGI said 14 per cent of impaired collisions in the province were by people under the age of 21, yet they only made up eight per cent of drivers. In April 2024, 486 drivers were suspended or charged for impaired driving, of which 126 suspensions were for alcohol.

– with files from CKOM News

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

On Bluesky: @loganlehmann.bsky.social