Impaired drivers a continued threat on roadways

Over the years I’ve compared drunk driving to playing Russian Roulette where you’re not only gambling with your own life but the lives of everyone else on the road; I’ve referred to it as a kill-orbe-killed scenario and I’ve talked about the extremely graphic television advertisements other countries air to try and prevent it.

Throughout my career I’ve participated in public education and awareness campaigns, worked Check Stops and arrested and charged impaired drivers, but nothing law enforcement or any advocacy group has done to date has ever been enough to stop it.

U.S. statistics show on average an impaired driver will drive drunk 80 times before their first arrest. It would be naïve to think things are any different in Canada.

During our Christmas Check Stop campaign, we charged 21 people with impaired driving and issued 11 Immediate Roadside Sanctions (IRS). An IRS is issued to drivers with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) over .05 and results in an immediate three-day licence suspension and three-day vehicle seizure for the first offence, a 15-day licence suspension and a seven-day vehicle seizure for the second offence and a 30-day suspension and seven-day vehicle seizure for third and subsequent offences.

In addition to the criminal charge, impaired drivers with a BAC over .08 have their licence suspended until the charge is resolved in court and their vehicle seized for three days on the first offence and seven days for subsequent offences.

Comparatively, in 2016 we charged 13 people with impaired driving during the Christmas Check Stop season. I will point out we started one week earlier in 2017 and we also had assistance at several Check Stops from members of the Blood Tribe Police Service and RCMP which enabled us to check a greater number of vehicles. Both factors likely contributed to the increase in arrests this year. Notwithstanding, we know the 21 people we charged with impaired driving only represent fraction of the drunk drivers who were on the road.

According to MADD Canada’s 2016 Annual Report, in 58 per cent of road crash deaths alcohol and/or drugs were present. Impaired driving remains an epidemic on our roadways and our enforcement efforts won’t end with the holidays.

LPS conducts Check Stops all year round and efforts are typically ramped up during long weekends and other celebratory occasions where people are likely to be drinking. In addition, our patrol and traffic members are always on the lookout for impaired drivers.

I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all the volunteers at Operation Red Nose who worked very hard to help keep our roads safe. You provide an extremely valuable service and LPS appreciates your efforts year after year. I also want to thank all the unsung heroes — the designated drivers, family members and friends who provided safe rides home.

There is absolutely no excuse for impaired driving. It is entirely a choice and entirely preventable. As a society we need to have zero tolerance. If you are going to drink, please don’t drive — plan ahead for a safe ride home. If you observe a suspected impaired driver, please call 911 immediately.