Concerned residents who called police, were responsible for taking two apparent impaired drivers off the street in one day in Oak Bay.
A resident called police after seeing a man drinking in the 1100 Block of Beach Drive and then driving away on Dec. 9, just before 6 p.m. Oak Bay officers located the man and his vehicle on Windsor Road and determined the man’s ability to operate the vehicle was impaired by alcohol.
He was arrested for impaired driving and refused to provide a breath sample.
Police are recommending charges of impaired operation of a motor vehicle and refusal to provide a breath sample.
A couple of hours later, just before 8:30 p.m., police received a second report of a possible impaired driver in the 2000 block of Milton Street.
A witness reported following a driver who was swerving excessively and ran a stop sign. Police located the vehicle and driver on Milton Street. The man driving failed a roadside breath test and was issued a 90-day immediate roadside probation.
RELATED: Saanich launches sober driving campaign to prevent tragic deaths
The two stops come at the start of what is among the busiest months for impaired driving in the province, according to statistics compiled by ICBC.
On average, 61 people are killed and 1,404 people injured in 2,415 impaired driving-related crashes in B.C. every year. On Vancouver Island, it translates to 10 people killed and 305 injured in 520 crashes.
At the start of each December, ICBC and police launch a month-long education and enforcement campaign to combat impaired driving on B.C. roads.
As 21 per cent of all car crash fatalities in B.C. involve impaired driving, ICBC and police are urging drivers to plan a safe ride home this holiday season. If your plans involve alcohol or other drugs, plan to get home safe – use a designated driver, call a taxi or rideshare, or take transit.
To kick off December, police amped up enforcement, looking for impaired drivers at CounterAttack road checks throughout the province. ICBC has led impaired driving education campaigns and funded enhanced police enforcement for more than 40 years.
