Holiday CounterAttack roadchecks start this weekend

November 27, 2018

The annual holiday CounterAttack campaign is kicking off this weekend with roadchecks set up across the province.

The B.C. government, police and ICBC are urging drivers to plan ahead and make smart decisions to get home safely this holiday season.

Impaired driving remains a leading cause of fatal car crashes, with an average of 68 lives lost every year in B.C. Police across the province will be setting up roadchecks to keep impaired drivers off our roads throughout December.

For more than 40 years, ICBC has supported impaired driving education campaigns and funded CounterAttack enhanced police enforcement. ICBC also provides free special event permit kits for businesses, sports facilities and community groups to promote the get home safe message.

ICBC is a sponsor of Operation Red Nose, a volunteer service in 19 B.C. communities that provides safe rides to drivers who feel unfit to drive, no matter the reason. This service is available November 30 until December 31 on Friday and Saturday nights, including New Year's Eve.

Next fiscal year, ICBC will be directing additional funding to police traffic enforcement throughout the province without increasing the operating budget.  The funding will come from ICBC's annual advertising budget. This shift in focus will help get more police officers on the road to crack down on risky driving behaviors and help prevent crashes.

Get more stats and facts from ICBC's infographic and learn more about the CounterAttack campaign on icbc.com.

Quotes:

Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General

"Generations of B.C. drivers and passengers have grown up with CounterAttack's deterrent messages and stepped-up seasonal enforcement. With cannabis now legal in Canada, we're determined to preserve CounterAttack's life-saving benefits in detecting alcohol- and drug-affected drivers and removing them from B.C.'s roads."

Chief Constable Neil Dubord, Chair of the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police Traffic Safety Committee

"Police officers across the province will be working hard to keep impaired drivers off our roads this December. Driving while impaired by alcohol or any drug, legal or otherwise, has been against the law for many years, and that hasn't changed. Do your part this holiday season and look out for family and friends – take a stand and don't let them get behind the wheel impaired."

Lindsay Matthews, ICBC's vice-president responsible for road safety

"We want everyone to enjoy the holidays with family and friends so make sure you plan ahead for a safe ride home. Whether you're attending a holiday get-together or meeting friends to watch a game, if your festivities involve alcohol, please leave your car at home or find an alternate way to get home safe – use a designated driver, call a taxi, take transit or use Operation Red Nose." 

Statistics:*

• On average, 17 people are killed in crashes involving impaired driving in the Lower Mainland every year.

• On average, 10 people are killed in crashes involving impaired driving on Vancouver Island every year.

• On average, 23 people are killed in crashes involving impaired driving in the Southern Interior every year.

• On average, 19 people are killed in crashes involving impaired driving in North Central B.C. every year.

Editor's notes:

Lower Mainland media are invited to attend an evening CounterAttack roadcheck on Saturday, December 1 in Vancouver. Please contact Joanne Bergman, 604-314-3138, for location.

Several police detachments throughout B.C. will also invite media to attend CounterAttack roadchecks in their communities on December 1.

B-roll footage of a CounterAttack roadcheck is available for download.

Notes about the data:

*Fatal victim counts from police data based on five-year average from 2013 to 2017. Impaired is defined to include alcohol, illicit drugs and medicines.

Media contact:

Lindsay Wilkins
604-982-4759