File photo (ICBC)
ICBC says their annual holiday CounterAttack campaign is starting this weekend that aims to take impaired drivers off the road this holiday season.
The corporation says impaired driving remains a leading cause of fatal car crashes, with an average of 68 lives lost every year in the province. Ten people are killed in crashes involving impaired driving on the Island every year.
Police will set up roadblocks across the province during the campaign, that will end on Jan. 1.
With the legalization of Marijana, officers say they are also ready to find those who are driving while high.
Most of the country doesn’t have devices to test for marijuana consumption but Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and specially trained drug recognition experts will be used in B.C.
“With cannabis now legal in Canada, we’re determined to preserve CounterAttack’s life-saving benefits in detecting alcohol- and drug-affected drivers and removing them from B.C.’s roads.” said Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth in a statement.
ICBC also points out programs such as Operation Red Nose that provide safe rides to those who feel unfit to drive from Nov.30 until Dec. 31 on Friday and Saturday nights, including New Year’s Eve.
Other alternatives such as a designated driver or alternate ways home like taxi and public transit are also strongly encouraged.
With files from CBC
CHEK News
