BC Highway Patrol’s 2025 Summer Impaired Driving Campaign removed 626 impaired drivers from the roads between June 15 and August 31. While impaired driving is a concern across the province, central and northern BC saw the highest rates. Northern BC, with a smaller population, recorded 146 impaired drivers, including 11 for drug impairment. The Kootenay region, in particular, faced significant issues with drug-impaired driving, with 31 of the 88 total violations linked to drugs.
This year, the province expanded its use of Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS), a tool that allows officers to test any driver stopped for a traffic violation, even without suspicion of impairment. MAS aims to detect drivers who may not show obvious signs of intoxication.
In one example from the Kootenays, a driver was stopped for speeding at 153 km/h in a 90 zone and found to be impaired. The driver faced fines, suspension, and a seven-day vehicle impound. The campaign highlights the need for greater awareness of impaired driving risks in rural BC, especially as speeding and impairment remain key factors in fatal crashes.
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