1 in 10 checked drivers were impaired during Canada Day crackdown on Vancouver Island: B.C. Highway Patrol
![Breathalyzer test A RCMP Constable holds a breathalyzer test showing a driver's blood-alcohol reading of .04 during a roadside check. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2022/4/2/breathalyzer-test-1-5845722-1648912595386.jpg)
Mounties on Vancouver Island say they pulled a "high number" of impaired drivers off highways over the Canada Day long weekend.
The B.C. Highway Patrol says it cracked down on impaired driving in the Lake Cowichan area as there was a music festival happening in the area as well as holiday festivities.
During the enforcement, the BCHP says it conducted 265 roadside breath tests. Of those, 26 drivers were impaired—24 by alcohol and two by drugs.
Police say impaired drivers were handed driving prohibitions ranging from three to 90 days depending on their blood-alcohol levels and some had their vehicles impounded.
"Impaired driving is one of the leading causes of deaths on our roadways, so finding nearly one out of every 10 drivers we tested over the weekend impaired is of great concern to me," said Staff Sgt. Adam Tallboy, officer in charge of the B.C. Highway Patrol's Vancouver Island section, in a news release Wednesday.
"Drivers who have consumed drugs or alcohol have a number of options to get home safely instead of getting behind the wheel of their vehicle and endangering all other road users."
According to ICBC, an average of 61 people are killed and 1,404 injured in crashes involving impaired drivers every year in B.C.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.7004259.1723854666!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
What do marijuana, the death penalty and fracking have in common? Kamala Harris shifted positions on them
Politicians often recalibrate in the face of shifting public opinions and circumstances. Across two decades in elected offices, U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris is no exception.
Disney has a price problem. It has ambitious plans to fix that
Disney recently announced a huge slate of projects for parks and cruises in front of 12,000 of its most loyal fans, who will almost certainly return to Disney's theme parks to experience those new offerings, no matter what it costs.
Demolition of sagging Toronto building continues
Crews continue to take apart a building near Toronto’s busy Kensington Market that was at risk of collapsing Friday. Heavy machinery remained at the site of the two-storey building on Dundas Street near Augusta Avenue Saturday morning as parts of the structure were demolished piece by piece.
breaking Trees down, damage reported after possible tornado near Ayr, Ont.
Tornado watches remain in effect across parts of Ontario.
The attack that seemed unthinkable until last week: How Russia looked the wrong way as Ukraine invaded
The idea that Ukraine could turn the tables on Russia and burst onto the territory of its much bigger neighbour seemed unthinkable to most observers before last week. The shock operation has raised questions about the effectiveness of Russia's surveillance.
DEVELOPING Tracking Ernesto: Hurricane makes landfall as a category 1 storm
Hurricane Ernesto made landfall on the tiny British Atlantic territory of Bermuda early Saturday as residents hunkered down.
B.C. man who said he was 'joking around' when he fatally shot girlfriend sentenced to 4 years
A man who told police he was "joking around" with his girlfriend when he fatally shot her in the head has been sentenced to four years in prison for manslaughter with an additional six months for possessing a rifle without a licence.
Fire breaks out at London's Somerset House, home to priceless works by Van Gogh, Cezanne
A fire broke out Saturday at Somerset House, a large arts venue on the River Thames in central London.
Check your Lotto Max tickets: 4 Ontarians win $1 million
Four Ontarians are now $1 million richer this Saturday morning, so those who play the Lotto Max may want to check their tickets.