A high number of impaired drivers were removed by BC Highway Patrol near Lake Cowichan over the Canada Day long weekend.
In a media release, BC Highway Patrol said they conducted an intensive enforcement campaign, resulting in the removal of a significant number of impaired drivers from the highways near Lake Cowichan.
This effort was in response to the increased traffic due to the holiday and the Laketown Shakedown Festival taking place that weekend.
Throughout the weekend, BC Highway Patrol officers conducted 265 roadside breath screening tests to check for alcohol impairment among drivers.
As a result, 26 drivers were found to be impaired—24 by alcohol and two by drugs.
“Impaired driving is one of the leading causes of deaths on our roadways so finding nearly 1 out of every 10 drivers we tested over the weekend impaired is of great concern to me,” said S/Sgt. Adam Tallboy, acting officer in charge of BC Highway Patrol Vancouver Island.
“Drivers who have consumed drugs or alcohol have a number of options to get home safely instead of getting behind the wheel of their vehicle and endangering all other road users.”
Tallboy said the public should anticipate increased impaired driving enforcement using mandatory breath tests.
Of the 26 drivers caught last week, immediate roadside prohibitions were issued, ranging from three to 90 days depending on the drivers’ blood alcohol concentration levels, along with vehicle impoundments.
