The Province, police and ICBC kicked off the summer CounterAttack campaign June 29, with a reminder to plan ahead and choose a designated driver to get home safely.
"The summer CounterAttack campaign is designed to help remind people to take personal responsibility and think before they drink," said Solicitor General Shirley Bond in a news release. "Far too many lives are lost needlessly and families impacted forever as a result of impaired driving incidents in our province. Today we are urging everyone to make smart, safe choices and help us reduce injury and death on B.C. highways."
ICBC and its road safety partners invest in combined enforcement and public awareness during the CounterAttack campaign as an effective way to change driver behaviour, save lives and prevent injuries. On average, 126 lives are lost each year on B.C. roads in crashes involving impaired driving.
"Police will be out in full force looking for impaired drivers at roadchecks across the province this summer," added Chief Constable Jamie Graham, Traffic Committee Chair of British Columbia Association of Chiefs of Police (BCACP). "We see the consequences of impaired driving far too often. That's why when you are out celebrating this summer we'll be there too, doing our part to keep B.C. roads safe."
Safety tips for reducing impaired driving:
After a couple isn't the time to choose a designated driver.
If you're going to drink, make the smart choice: choose a designated driver before going out and plan to get home safe.
Set an example; refuse to ride with drivers who may be impaired. Your smart driving decisions can have a significant influence on others.
A true designated driver is the person who chooses not to drink so that they can drive others home safely.
If you see an impaired driver, call 911 and report it to your local police.
Learn about the effects of alcohol. It affects your judgment, reaction time and co-ordination, your ability to steer, track moving objects, brake, and control your speed and lane position.
No amount of coffee, cold showers or fresh air will make you sober. The only cure is time.
For more information about the summer CounterAttack campaign, visit icbc.com.
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