Police will be out in force at Checkstop locations and roving patrols across the city looking for impaired drivers. While the Checkstop program is aimed at detecting impaired drivers and removing them from the road, a large component is aimed at educating the public of the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving.
“Approximately 70,000 Canadians are injured or killed in impaired driving collisions each year,” says Sgt. Conrad Moschansky with the EPS Impaired Driving Countermeasures Unit. “Impaired driving is a careless and avoidable act that police take very seriously, and as a community we need to keep the message out there that it’s unacceptable. We need friends, family and other drivers to look out for one another, and help people make responsible choices. Remind people to drive sober, or if they are planning to have a few drinks, encourage them to take a cab, or a bus, or make other arrangements to get home safely. And, if you see an impaired driver, please contact police. Let’s all have a safe and enjoyable holiday season.”
In Edmonton in 2012, there were a total of 2,213 impaired driving charges and 1,314 roadside suspensions. So far in 2013, there have been 1,697 impaired driving charges and 766 separate roadside suspensions. In Edmonton this year, impaired driving was a factor in 15 per cent of serious injury collisions and 33 per cent of fatal collisions.
The Checkstop program enhances other EPS impaired driving enforcement efforts such as Target All Drunk Drivers (police mobile enforcement near entertainment areas) and Curb the Danger (citizens reporting impaired drivers by calling 911), and helps to make Edmonton’s streets safe for all citizens.
If you suspect a driver is impaired, please contact police as soon as possible to Curb the Danger:
- Call 911 if it is safe to do so. Calling 911 in an emergency, or to report an impaired driver, is permitted while driving under the distracted driving law.
- Report the location, vehicle description, and licence plate number.
- Keep the vehicle in sight but do not attempt to chase the vehicle, or break the law to do so.
For more information on EPS traffic safety and enforcement initiatives, please visit www.edmontonpolice.ca.