BC Highway Patrol to wrap up summer impaired driving campaign a month earlier

“That’s why our refocused summer impaired driving campaign is now June 15 until the end of July.”

Data from ICBC suggests that between 2020 and 2024, there were 35 deaths caused by impaired driving crashes in both July and August. There were 33 such deaths in June over the same period. Across the entire five year period, there were 322 people killed by impaired drivers in B.C., with only speed (454) and distracted driving (400) ahead.

“Impaired driving is obviously always a priority in B.C, and we want to get those numbers down as they are responsible for a lot of fatalities in June and July, even more than in the months that bracket June and July,” McLaughlin added, noting the shorter campaign has “nothing to do with budgetary considerations.”

“We’re really focusing in and letting folks know to be extra cautious and make sure you aren’t responsible for the deaths of innocent people on our roads.”

Not everyone is on board with the changes. Lisa Lizzi-Davidson, who helms the Kamloops chapter of MADD Canada, told CFJC she is surprised by the decision to move to a shorter summer enforcement campaign.

“MADD Canada has their ‘Campaign 911’ which runs from the May long weekend until after Labour Day,” Lizzi-Davidson said. “There’s a lot that happens after July 31. The lakes are busy are well, and so it’s not just road crashes that occur but also anything that’s happening on waterways.”

McLaughlin said local police detachments are still able to tailor their enforcement efforts based on needs in their communities. He said that means check stops, regular police patrols and individual traffic stops around the year to try and get people to change their behaviour before they get behind the wheel.

“It’s whatever each community thinks is most appropriate for them,” McLaughlin said. “Also obviously, when you’ve got festivals or big local events, we are going to be focusing in on those in a community-specific way as part of this broader summer impaired driving campaign.”

During last summer’s campaign, BC Highway Patrol removed 626 impaired drivers across provincial highways, including 111 in Central B.C., which includes Kamloops, Merritt, Clearwater and Kelowna.

“Anecdotally, there is a problem in Central BC with impaired driving,” McLaughlin said. “There is perhaps a cultural issue where people think that they can be the exception to the rule or perhaps, people think because there aren’t as many transit options, it isn’t their responsibility to plan ahead.”

“That is not the case as driving is a privilege and not a right.”

Both police and MADD Canada are urging people to have a plan to get home – whether it be a designated driver, a taxi or ride sharing service, or by using public transit. They also say to leave plenty of time to recover as it can take a while for the effects of drugs and alcohol to leave your system.

“If you are a driver, you need to plan ahead,” McLaughlin said. “That is the expectation. If you don’t do that, B.C. Highway Patrol will be enforcing the law.”

Lizzi-Davidson lost her 24-year-old son, Reid, to an impaired driving crash in Nanaimo in 2023. She’s noted the Kamloops chapter of MADD Canada has a few initiatives in the works to target impaired driving, and hopes people play a role as well.

“I’m optimistic there will be a lot of checks happening throughout the summer,” Lizzi-Davidson said. “I hope people are prepared to call 911 if they suspect an impaired driver. That’s an important part, as well. They can also play a big part in keeping our roads safe.”

by Victor Kaisar

BC Highway Patrol to wrap up summer impaired driving campaign a month earlier

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