NANAIMO — The message is simple: if you drink, don’t drive.
But it’s one some drivers are unable to comprehend, resulting in another campaign starting Sunday, June 15, from BC Highway Patrol officers this summer, with a particular focus on summer recreators and attendees of Island festivals and events.
Insp. Adam Tallboy with the unit said cases of driving while impaired, either by drugs or alcohol, continue to be too high, resulting in dangerous and occasionally fatal road incidents.
“We do generally see an increase of drivers on the roadways [in the summer], and we see an increase of people consuming alcohol, whether it’s at a backyard barbeque, a baseball game, another event, and then an operating motor vehicle, so we want to get out there to make sure all the public can get home safely.”
Lake Cowichan’s Sunfest beginning late July, as well as a special performance by Nickelback at the same venue a few weeks later are top of the planning list for officers, according to Tallboy.
He said they have a strong presence in and out of the community for Sunfest every year.
“We check thousands of drivers going through the road checks, and thankfully the majority of them are making sensible choices, either having a designated driver or just not drinking themselves. But, we still find way too many people impaired by alcohol and drugs on our roadway.”
Enforcement will also extend into municipalities via partnerships with local RCMP detachments.
Tallboy said they’ll set up in different places, at different times.
“[Drivers] may see them during the day or at night. We do have increased presence on the highways and in the cities with our Integrated Road Safety Units to assist our municipal policing partners with impaired driving, so they’ll definitely see increased check stops and impaired stops.”
Tallboy said transit, ride sharing, taxis or having a designated driver are all options to be used instead of getting behind the wheel impaired.
— with files from Bill Nation, 97.3 The Eagle
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