LAC LA BICHE - Lac La Biche RCMP’s detachment, alongside local enforcement services and community peace officers, held check stops throughout the County to conduct impaired driving tests and promote awareness for National Impaired Driving Enforcement Day on Dec. 4, said RCMP Sgt. Charles Brown.
Individuals travelling along Highway 55, 663, 36, 881 and along 94 Avenue in the hamlet of Lac La Biche were stopped - by a large police presence - for alcohol and drug screening tests throughout the day, he said.
A total of 570 vehicles were stopped, 198 breathalyzer tests were conducted, resulting in one failure and one warning being issued throughout the day, said Sgt. Brown.
Impaired driving awareness campaigns throughout the Christmas season has been a recurring objective for local enforcement services over the years, he said, and this year's participants responded to the large police presence very well.
“The feedback from all these vehicles stopped was very positive and the people expressed their appreciation of seeing that size of a police presence focusing on impaired driving—that speaks volumes.”
The positive interactions relayed to staff support’s the communities safety overall and assist’s local enforcement officials when doing their job, he said. At times, he said individuals can get angry and annoyed when enforcement services pull them over, but in the end, they realize that deterring bad behavior and having a presence can reduce severe injuries or even death.
“Over the years now, people are starting to appreciate the efforts that the police have put forward in being strategic about getting the information out there, the fact that we mean business and that we want to deal with unnecessary deaths and serious collisions that could be prevented.”
Enforcement services on the road are vital, he said, and the success that arises from communicating and enforcing safe driving is supported by the municipal government and neighbouring Indigenous communities' desire to see safe driving practices flourish.
The initiatives to engage the youth in the discussion are furthered by local schools in the area that consistently request presentations throughout the school year. This week, through the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) program, police hope to educate the next generation of drivers at J.A Williams School about the dangers of impaired driving.
"The support is there, it allows us to get the youth informed of the consequences on the judicial side of things as well as the impacts of people getting hurt. The youth sometimes are still growing and developing responsibilities… We are trying to reach out to the youth and let them know that vehicles are not toys, when you get in a collision you can’t press the reset button,” said Sgt. Brown.
Nevertheless, he is hopeful that all the awareness campaigns are working, seeing a decline in impaired driving throughout his years in enforcement services shows the education is working - but the campaign doesn’t stop there.
“The amount of impaired driving is down considerably very measurable, compared to when I started 40 years ago. It’s very positive and we will continue our enforcement through the Christmas season.”
