RCMP ramping up check stops for national crackdown on impaired drivers
Posted Mar 19, 2018 1:23 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
There is a greater chance Albertans could be pulled over this week. Mounties, with the help of Alberta Traffic Sheriffs, are setting up check stops in conjunction with National Impaired Driving Prevention Week.
“We’ve picked up impaired drivers at 8:30 in the morning, we’ve picked them up at 8:30 at night, we pick them up at 3:00 in the afternoon, so it’s really no certain time that we look for impaired operation,” said Const. Mike Hibbs of Alberta RCMP Traffic Services.
It’s not just boozy drivers police are looking for. Drug recognition experts will be spread across the highways and roads to catch people under the influence.
“There is a myth that it is okay to use drugs and drive because it affects you differently,” said Supt. Gary Graham of Alberta Sheriff Traffic Operations. “It is important to remind everyone that impaired driving, whether by drugs or alcohol, is a serious offence that will lead to criminal charges.”
Officers are also encouraging Albertans to help keep the roads safe by reporting other drivers.
“If you see something that’s not right on the highway, please give us a call. It’s better to check it out and be safe, find out that it’s nothing really to worry about, or it could be the worst case scenario where we do pick up an impaired driver,” said Const. Hibbs.
RCMP are also offering some sobering statistics. In 2016, about a third (27.9 per cent) of deadly crashes involved alcohol or drugs. In the first two months of this year, RCMP issued 538 impaired driving violations.
