The province-wide drinking-drinking CounterAttack campaign kicked off Wednesday.
It comes a day after a head-on collision south of Campbell River that claimed the life of a 59-year-old local man. The second driver, a 28-year-old Campbell River man, is currently in hospital and is being investigated for drinking and driving.
According to ICBC statistics, an average of five people are killed in B.C. every December in crashes involving impaired driving. And on Vancouver Island, an average of 930 people are injured in 3,500 crashes during December.
“We’ve come a long way since 1976, the year before CounterAttack road checks started, when more than 300 people were killed in impaired related crashes each year in our province,” said Attorney General Suzanne Anton. “Despite the progress, the numbers are far too high, which is why we’re committed to reducing crashes involving alcohol and drugs and will continue to support enhanced enforcement.”
Drivers can expect to see road checks throughout the holiday season.
“The reality is that approximately one-third of all car crash fatalities in B.C. are related to impaired driving,” said Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “These are preventable tragedies. Safety is our top priority and we want everyone to do their part this Christmas season and look out for their friends and family – take a stand and don’t let them get behind the wheel impaired.”
By the Numbers
- On average, 95 people are killed in crashes involving impaired driving in B.C. every year.
- On average, 16 people are killed in similar crashes on Vancouver Island every year.