If you’re planning on drinking this St. Patrick’s Day, don’t drive

B.C., BC Highway Patrol

2024-03-14 13:19 PDT

BC Highway Patrol will be targeting impaired drivers across the province this St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Although road blocks will be set up from north to south, we are asking for help from the public to prevent traffic fatalities this weekend by planning a safe ride home and reporting impaired drivers to the police.

If you are out enjoying your weekend, be alert and call the police to report the following driving behaviour or situations:

A person was drinking and is getting into a driver’s seat of a vehicle
Someone needs help trying to prevent an impaired person from driving
A vehicle is swerving across road lines, running red lights, is almost causing collisions or you otherwise suspect the driver may be impaired.

Impaired driving penalties range from significant fines and being prohibited from driving to being charged criminally. The impound fees alone can reach thousands of dollars, says Corporal Melissa Jongema, BC Highway Patrol Media Relations Officer. Safe rides save lives, so plan for a safe ride home if you are planning on consuming liquor this weekend.

Photo of pills and alcohol that says what do these have in common? They can impair your ability to drive safely

View larger photo: Photo of pills and alcohol that says what do these have in common? They can impair your ability to drive safely

Every year across British Columbia, countless lives are lost in fatal collisions due to impaired drivers on our highways. In 2022 alone, ICBC statistics report that 91 preventable lives were lost with many more left in critical condition with life-long injuries. This St. Patrick’s Day weekend, let’s work together to make our highways safer.

BC Highway Patrol