BC Highway Patrol has launched its annual Summer Impaired Driving Campaign, with a new timeline aimed at targeting the months when impaired driving collisions are most common.
For the first time, the campaign will run from June 15 to July 31, rather than extending through August. Police say the change is based on data showing June and July are the most dangerous months of the year for impaired driving crashes in British Columbia.
Throughout the campaign, drivers can expect increased enforcement from both marked and unmarked police vehicles. Additional check stops and traffic enforcement will be focused around long weekends, festivals, and other events where alcohol or drug consumption is more common.
Police are also reminding drivers that Mandatory Alcohol Screening remains in effect across Canada. The law allows officers to demand a breath sample from any driver during a lawful stop, even if there are no visible signs of alcohol consumption.
BC Highway Patrol is encouraging people to plan ahead before attending parties, barbecues, and summer gatherings. Choosing a designated driver, arranging a ride-share, taking a taxi, or using public transit can help prevent impaired driving incidents.
Officials say the goal of the campaign is not only enforcement, but also education and prevention. By increasing awareness and visibility during the highest-risk period of the summer, police hope to reduce collisions, injuries, and deaths on B.C. roads.
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