December is often a month associated with over-indulging on the finer things in life, which is why the RCMP will be out in full force this month to stop people from drinking and driving.
鈥淎lthough impaired driving is an important safety focus year-round, the RCMP typically sees an increase during the month of December, mostly due to the numerous Christmas parties taking place all over town,鈥� wrote Jasper RCMP Const. Patrick Vallee.
鈥淢ultiple check stops as well as patrols will be conducted over the month of December.鈥�
According to the RCMP, in 2015 more than 1,250 people were killed in impairment-related crashes in Canada and more than 63,000 people were injured.
Impaired driving continues to be the leading cause of collisions in Canada with alcohol being a factor in more than 55 per cent of the time.
According to the province, there were 42,913 criminal convictions for impaired driving in Alberta between Apr. 1, 2009 to March 31, 2014.
To kick off the month-long initiative the RCMP would like to remind the public about the consequences of聽operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
Drivers who are pulled over with a blood alcohol concentration between .05 and .08 will have their driver鈥檚 license suspended as well as their vehicle seized for a minimum of three days.
Drivers who are pulled over with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher will be arrested and charged under the Criminal Code, have their license suspended for an extended period of time and their vehicle seized for a minimum of three days.
New drivers (GDL) operating a vehicle with any blood alcohol concentration will automatically have their license suspended for 30 days and their vehicle seized for seven days.
While the legal repercussions can be severe, the biggest consequence for drinking and driving is injuring or killing either yourself or someone else.
According to the provincial government, 444 people were killed and聽6,649 people were injured in alcohol-related collisions in Alberta from 2009 to 2013.
On average one in five drivers involved in fatal collisions in Alberta had been drinking prior to the collision and most fatal collisions involving alcohol occur on the weekends. The most likely time for these collisions is between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m.
If you suspect a driver is impaired the RCMP encourages the public to call 911.
Paul Clarke [email protected]
