CounterAttack roadside checks begin this weekend

The B.C. government, police and ICBC are sending the message not to drink and drive this holiday season as this year’s CounterAttack campaign kicks off this weekend.

Impaired driving remains a leading cause of fatal car crashes with an average of 68 lives lost every year in B.C., according to ICBC.

Motorists are being urged to plan ahead and make smart decisions to get home safely during the holiday season.

More than half of impaired-related crashes occur on the weekend, between Friday to Sunday. Road checks will be set up across the province throughout December to keep impaired drivers off the road.

"CounterAttack remains a vital, strategic enforcement measure. Most people have got the message that driving after drinking or consuming drugs is dangerous. However, there are still those willing to take a chance with the lives of themselves, their passengers and other road users. CounterAttack makes intercepting those people job number one,” says Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth.

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

ICBC has funded impaired driving education campaigns for more than 40 years, in addition to being a sponsor for Operation Red Nose, a volunteer service in 20 B.C. communities that provides safe rides to drivers who feel unfit to drive. The service is available Nov. 29 to Dec. 21 on Friday and Saturday nights, and on New Year’s Eve.

More can be found about the CounterAttack campaign on icbc.com

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