Impaired driving is on the rise in Saanich and Victoria

Saanich police have removed 580 impaired drivers from the municipality's roads so far this year, setting a record for Immediate Roadside Prohibitions since the program began in 2010.

“In early September, we surpassed the total number of impaired drivers taken off the road in all of 2023, which was 468,” said Cst. Martin Roznowski.

Saanich Police conduct alcohol and drug-impaired investigations throughout the year, a Saanich PD spokesperson told Capital Daily in an email, and it “will be operating [additional] counterattacks throughout December.”

Mayor Dean Murdock said impaired driving is always a major cause for concern.

“In 2022, Saanich adopted the Vision Zero approach which seeks to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries," he tells Capital Daily.

"As the District commits to making our roads safer for everyone through our Road Safety Action Plan and Active Transportation Plan, we applaud the work of our police partners to identify impaired drivers, take them off our roads, and protect the public from potential harm.”

Saanich isn't alone

Victoria also faces an increase in the number of impaired drivers on its streets. Just Monday, a 22-year-old woman struck a post along Beach Dr. in Oak Bay and then failed a breathalyzer test.

The woman was issued a $276 ticket for failing to produce a driver’s licence and her vehicle was towed and impounded for 30 days.

VicPD has removed 277 impaired drivers from its roads so far in 2024. That number is in line with a yearly average of 303 since 2020. A pair of dramatic crashes in late March highlighted a 17% increase in the number of impaired drivers taken off the road by RCMP officers in the Westshore. From Jan. 1 to March 31, Westshore RCMP told 53 impaired drivers they had to hand over their keys.

Alongside Saanich, VicPD is increasing enforcement of impaired driving as the holiday season approaches.

“With many options to get home safe (rideshare, public transit, taxi, etc.), there really is no excuse to get behind the wheel when impaired by alcohol or drugs,” a VicPD spokesperson told Capital Daily.

“Driving under the influence is a serious and reckless decision that endangers not only the driver but everyone on the road," said Fiona Wilson, Vancouver's deputy police chief.

"It's imperative that we all understand the life-altering consequences that can arise from this irresponsible behavior,” she said. “Your choices behind the wheel affect more than just you."

1 in 3 fatal crashes involves an impaired driver

According to ICBC, on average, 33% of all fatal crashes in the province involve drugs or alcohol. That means 61 people die in crashes involving impaired​ driving in BC every year. Impaired accidents happen more frequently at a rate of 53% higher, over the weekend—Friday to Sunday. Alcohol and drug-related data for more recent years were not available.

Driving while impaired is also a gendered issue.

The majority—69%—of drivers involved in substance-influenced crashes are men. Men drive more frequently and are more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviour, so it makes sense their impaired rates are higher.

The RCMP has reported that impaired driving is the third-leading cause of deaths on the road and that the number of impaired driving-related crashes where someone is injured or killed increases over the summer months. Between last July 5 and July 10 alone, 19 motor-vehicle-related deaths were reported to the BCCS.

The province will ding you, too

If your car gets impounded because you’ve been taken off the road for impaired driving, you’re going to pay more these days to get it back.

Last September, after a two-year surge in highway fatalities over the summer months, the province increased fees for the towing and stowing of vehicles for impaired drivers. Flat rate towing fees went up by 38% to $110 and storage fees almost doubled, rising 96% to $40 per day. Suspensions for impaired driving range from 24 hours to 90 days.

MADD about town

The winter holiday season, with its celebratory office events and private gatherings, is notorious for increased impaired driving. MADD Canada launched its 37th Project Red Ribbon campaign on Nov. 1. This is its national effort to prevent impaired driving during the holiday season, a time when the risk of impaired driving is high. This year’s campaign runs until Jan 6.

MADD’s national campaign has a “light up red” partner in Victoria where Project Red Ribbon will feature lights at the Ceremonial Entrance, front (centre) fountain, and back (Centennial) Fountain of the Parliament Buildings as well as at the Confederation Garden Park Fountain and Waterfall.