Video shows 'reckless' drunk driver going wrong way through B.C. city, RCMP say

Authorities are using alarming video of a driver going the wrong direction in B.C.'s Lower Mainland to showcase the dangers of being drunk behind the wheel.

The video was captured by an RCMP officer who was patrolling Burnaby, on Royal Oak Avenue near Dover Street, before sunrise on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 23.

The recording shows a car heading straight for the officer's vehicle, before the driver pulls into a turning lane on his right – with his left blinker on.

"There is no excuse for impaired driving," said Cpl. Mike Kalanj, in a statement. "This driver put himself and every road user around him at risk when he made the reckless choice to get behind the wheel while impaired."

The video also shows the driver briefly reversing his car away from the RCMP officer, before finally coming to a stop.

The 40-year-old man behind the wheel admitted he'd been drinking and was handed an immediate 90-day driving prohibition, authorities said. His vehicle was also towed and impounded for 30 days.

Less than a week later, another RCMP officer from the Burnaby detachment was rear-ended by a pickup truck on Highway 1, despite being stopped with his lights activated.

The officer remains off duty and in recovery, several weeks after the Nov. 27 crash, the RCMP said.

Investigators do not believe the driver involved in that incident was impaired, but Kalanj said both should serve as reminders to drivers to be cautious on the roads.

"We are urging everyone to take caution and care behind the wheel not just over the holiday season, but every day," said Kalanj. "This includes choosing a safe ride home and giving your undivided attention to the road when driving."

Impairment is a major concern throughout December, and the RCMP has warned drivers to expect increased enforcement on the roads.

In Burnaby alone, eight impaired drivers were nabbed over the course of two nights of roadblocks on Dec. 12 and 13, authorities said.