With Canada Day long weekend around the corner, ICBC is reminding drivers to plan ahead as it launches its summer road checks.
According to ICBC, one person is killed and 190 injured in 640 crashes in BC each year on Canada Day. Of that total, 24 people are injured in 91 crashes on Vancouver Island.
In addition to those Canada Day numbers, the insurance body said 65 people are killed each year in crashes that involve impaired driving, with 40 per cent of those occurring during the summer months alone.
Beginning this week, police across the province will be ramping up alcohol and drug enforcement, looking for impaired drivers using their CounterAttack road checks.
In a statement, ICBC said “crashes involving impaired driving are preventable. No matter where you are this summer: if you plan to drink, don’t drive – arrange a designated driver, call a taxi or rideshare, or take transit.”
Provincial Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth said that most people understand that driving after drinking or consuming drugs is dangerous, but there are still people willing to risk their own and other’s lives.
“This impaired driving campaign is an important tool that helps educate and protect British Columbians,” he said.
If caught driving while impaired, driving suspensions can range from 24 hours to 90 days, your vehicle may be impounded, and fines, jail time and mandatory rehabilitation may be applied.
On average, 11 people are killed and 310 injured in 550 impaired driving related crashes on Vancouver Island every year.
