Ready for the weekend? Be prepared for road checks on Vancouver Island

Ready for the weekend? Be prepared for road checks on Vancouver Island
CHEK

File photo.

File photo.

If you’re travelling on Vancouver Island this Saturday, you may see some police along the highway.

On Dec. 2, police from across Vancouver Island will be participating in “Lighting Up the Highway,” where officers conduct road checks from Victoria to Port Hardy.

The police will be on Highways 1, 19, 14 and 17 throughout the evening.

The “Lighting Up the Highway” event is part of a larger provincial campaign where police and ICBC are urging drivers to plan ahead for a safe ride home.

According to B.C. Island District Traffic Services, impaired driving is one of the leading causes of death involving crime in Canada. On average, 65 people die every year in crashes involving impaired driving in British Columbia.

Police said 57 per cent of impaired crashes happen on Friday, Saturday or Sunday and 39 per cent of impaired-related crashes happen between the hours of 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.

On Vancouver Island, an average of nine people are killed in impaired driving-related crashes every year, police said.

Anyone who sees an impaired driver is asked to call 911 to report them.

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