It appears Prince George residents are still not getting the message about impaired driving.
According to new numbers from the RCMP, there were 24 violations between Dec. 17 and 21 against the Motor Vehicle Act related to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including 11 vehicle impoundments.
This is part of Mounties’ CounterAttack campaign for the 2020 holiday season, which began on Dec. 2.
“Although the dynamic of traffic enforcement has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the fact is impaired driving remains one of the leading causes of serious and fatal motor vehicle collisions on our roads,” says Sergeant Kyle Ushock, head of Prince George RCMP’s Traffic Services Unit, in a statement on Wednesday (Dec. 23).
From multiple roving checks in the city this past weekend, the following violations were issued:
- 11 = Vehicle Impoundments
- Nine = 90-day Immediate Roadside Prohibitions
- Two = 24-hour Provincial Driving Prohibitions for alcohol
- One = Three-day Immediate Roadside Prohibition
- One = 12-hour Provincial Roadside Suspension for alcohol
ICBC says, on average, 17 people die in north-central B.C. each year from vehicle crashes when alcohol, drugs and medication was involved.
Across the province, roughly 67 people are killed each year from these fatal incidents.
“Impaired driving enforcement is a national priority and to support this the Prince George RCMP allocates increased resources in their effort to keep impaired drivers off the road,” the local detachment adds.
Anyone who sees an impaired person driving or about the drive away in a vehicle is encouraged to call 9-1-1 immediately.
