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B.C. road checks focusing on impaired drivers in July

While restaurants and pubs begin to re-open for the summer, police will be setting up more road checks to make sure impaired drivers are kept off the roads this month.
road checks
An increase of road checks focusing on impaired drivers will begin on July 1. Photo: ICBC

While restaurants and pubs begin to re-open for the summer, police will be setting up more road checks to make sure impaired drivers are kept off the roads this month.

The road checks are part of the Summer CounterAttack Impaired Driving Campaign where the police force across the province will be enforcing for the month of July.

According to ICBC, there are 1,500 impaired driving related crashes resulting in 830 people injured and 16 deaths every year.

The Lower Mainland has seen an average of 130 people injured in 430 crashes on Canada Day.

Nicolas Jimenez, president and CEO of ICBC, said everyone needs to “do their part” to prevent crashes.

“When you drink and drive, you not only risk your life, but those of others on the road.”

Impaired driving is the leading cause of criminal death in Canada and is in the top three factors of fatal crashes in the province, according to a media statement.

“Too often our officers are put in the position of having to notify a family that they have lost a loved one due to an impaired driving collision,” said Supt. Holly Turton, officer in charge of B.C. RCMP Traffic Services, adding that COVID-19 is “not an excuse to disregard the law.”

“We want people to enjoy the summer, but we also want people to make good decisions and choose to drive sober every time they get behind the wheel.”

Drivers planning drink are asked to plan ahead to get home safely by calling a taxi, taking the bus or having a designated driver.