Alberta documentary exposes reckless driving epidemic Alberta is suffering though an epidemic and the Alberta Medical Association has taken steps to help “Almost 400 people die and 30,000 are eradicate it. injured each year. Worldwide, more than Through the Health Issues Council, the association is a participating partner in an Alberta-produced 50 million are killed and injured.” documentary about aggressive and reckless driving. injured each year. Worldwide, more than 50 million are killed and injured. “This takes a terrible toll not only on victims, but destroys families and Photos from Sudden Stop relationships while costing the health care system billions of dollars,” says victims, Sudden Stop shadows law Edmonton-area producer/director enforcement and emergency crews with unprecedented access to Marvin Polis. crash scenes. Polis also takes a Sudden Stop is airing nationally on hidden camera on the road to capture broadcast television and the producers Like the influential American the behaviors of Alberta’s drivers. will be donating DVDs to Alberta documentary Bowling for Columbine, Alarming behaviors are captured schools and libraries in mid-2007. In by Michael Moore, Sudden Stop began at stop signs, in school zones, addition, a limited number of DVDs as a personal critique by Polis. construction zones, crosswalks, are available to doctors who may be Edmonton’s infamous Whitemud Drive involved in local advocacy work. “On average, I’ve been affected and Calgary’s Deerfoot Trail. by a car crash every 2.5 to three years and a close family member Although Sudden Stop does not was recently involved in a very reveal the identities of the drivers, “A limited number of DVDs are available serious crash,” says Polis. “I just “I wonder if people would drive like said enough is enough. Real people that if they knew their friends and to doctors who may be involved in need to start telling real stories to neighbors were watching them,” counteract the fast and furious fiction muses Polis. “We seem to drive like local advocacy work.” of Hollywood.” we are anonymous.” A drunk driver from Calgary killed Two Alberta doctors participate in his best friend. A young mother from the documentary. Outspoken injury Shot on location in Alberta, British Red Deer lost her husband and child prevention advocate Dr. Louis H. Columbia and Ontario, Sudden Stop in a car crash; her other two children Francescutti, Emergency Medicine, is intended to encourage drivers suffered permanent brain injuries. A Edmonton, is particularly direct in of all ages to consider and discuss young mother from Hythe, Alberta, drawing attention to the problem. the dangers of careless driving. The is widowed after cell phone use. A documentary tackles a wide range of young man spent eight days crushed “The World Health Organization risks including cell phone use, driving in a car wreck with no food or water. (WHO) has declared traffic injuries under the influence, driving when These are just some of the stories a worldwide health epidemic,” says fatigued, speeding and much more. Sudden Stop tells. Francescutti. “So the WHO looked at the world and said we have a How big is this epidemic in Alberta? In addition to these candid and problem. And you know what? This Almost 400 people die and 30,000 are heart-breaking interviews with problem is going to get worse.” Alberta Doctors’ Digest • January/February 2007 23 “After watching Sudden Stop, for the first time in my life I’m The list of supporters for the to rave reviews from Alberta and wearing my seatbelt. And Sudden Stop documentary grew other parts of Canada. now I realize I’ve been a bad rapidly over the three years the project was in production. The documentary will air again influence on my children.” numerous times over the next (A British Columbia truck driver) In addition to the Alberta Medical four years on Canadian Learning Association, more than 20 organizations Television, CourtTV Canada, ACCESS “One of the best documentaries helped out, including the Alberta and other broadcasters. Check your I’ve seen on the subject.” Motor Association, Capital Health, TV listings for days and times. (An Alberta doctor) Edmonton Police Service, RCMP, STARS Air Ambulance, Edmonton The 96-minute feature length EMS, CTV, CHUM, Alberta Community version of Sudden Stop is segmented Initiatives Program, Alberta Foundation into 10-minute sections on DVD to “There’s a whole culture of risk- for the Arts, Alberta Transportation, Alberta Traffic Supply, Royal Alexandra make the content more “bite-sized” taking, speed, fast. The movies show in an educational setting. it all the time. Every movie has a Hospital and many others. car-chase scene where someone Physicians who are involved in crashes the car, gets up, walks away, The producers are grateful for the advocacy work, and wish to obtain kisses the girl and lives happily ever assistance. “I know it sounds cliché the DVD, should contact Daphne C. after. So we’ve raised a generation of but if this project saves one life or Andrychuk, Secretary, Public idiots who think you can crash a car prevents one horrific maiming, it and walk away.” will be worth it,” concludes Polis. Affairs, Alberta Medical Association: 780.482.2626, ext. 275, toll-free Dr. Warren S. Thirsk, Emergency Sudden Stop has already aired 1.800.272.9680, ext. 275, daphne. Medicine, Edmonton, goes on to say, several times on broadcast television [email protected]. “Three thousand pounds of metal can hurt you very badly. I think one of the things people expect the medical world to do is to fix problems. “‘People expect me to wave a magic wand and fix everything and the truth is I can’t. Brain injuries never heal. Death never heals. Dead is dead. I can’t bring anyone back and that’s what people forget.’” “I refer to it as the Humpty Dumpty syndrome. Can I glue a piece of the shell back together? Possibly. But is it still cracked? Yes. People expect me to wave a magic wand and fix everything and the truth is I can’t. Brain injuries never heal. Death never heals. Dead is dead. I can’t bring anyone back and that’s what people forget.” 24 Alberta Doctors’ Digest • January/February 2007.