News TheReview Wednesday, December 30, 1992 = Ai The facts about drinking and driving Roving roadblocks most effective e Drinking driving was the fourth major cause of motor vehi- cle accidents in British Columbia last year. e Jn 1991, alcohol was a contri- buting factor i 6,803 motor vehi- cle accidents in British Columbia. e Last year, alcohol-related accidents claimed the lives of 180 British Columbians and injured 5,276 others. e Drinking driving is the lead- ing cause of death on B.C. high- ways, contributing to one-third of all traffic fatalities in 1991. ° Last year, nearly one-third (31 per cent) of the people killed in alcohol-related accidents were passengers in the drinking driver’s car. Drinking Driving Costs ¢ ICBC estimates that 21 cents Out of every premium dollar is spent repairing the damage done by drinking drivers. © Over $130 million per year is spent on enforcement, court, med- ical services and other costs in British Columbia. « About one out of every five people in B.C. jails are there for drinking driving. One in five of all Cnminal Code cases heard in the B.C. provincial court involved dnnking driving. About $15 mi- - lion is spent on charges alone. Young Drivers: e Last year, 32 young people between the ages of 16 and 20 were killed and another 1,074 injured in alcohol-related inci- dents. e Young drivers aged 16 to 20 years make up the third highest category of drinking drivers involved in accidents on B.C. high- ways in 1991. 37 per cent of these drivers had not reached the legal drinking age at the time of their accident. = In 1991, 13 young people aged 16 to 20 years were killed and another 367 were injured as passengers in a drinking driver’s car. e Young British Columbians aged 16 to 20 years accounted for 20 per cent of all alcohol-related accident victims in 1991. e In 1991, drinking drivers between the ages of 16 and 20 were involved in 992 accidents, more than half of which involved injuries or fatalities. One-quarter of all passengers killed or injured last year in a drinking driver’s car were between 16 and 20 years of age. Sidney CounterAttack working The Sidney RCMP Christmas CounterAttack seems to be ward- ing off impaired drivers. Since the campaign kicked off, although nine 24-hour suspen- sions have been handed out and 14 drivers have been given roadside breath tests, no impaired drivers have been apprehended by RCMP, Cpl. Jake Bouwman said. Police are very pleased with the results to date but do advise driv- ers that roadblocks are being planned to coincide with office/ home parties, especially now that the New Year celebrations are in full-swing, Bouwman said. Red ribbon campaign is reminding motorists not to drink and drive MADD), Mothers Against Drink- ing Drivers, is holding its third annual red ribbon campaign. Again this year the organization is asking citizens to tie a red ribbon their vehicle to serve as a reminder not to drink and drive. The ribbon also serves as a sign to the community that the car owner has chosen “to make a difference’ in the struggle to reduce the tragedy caused by drinking drivers, a MADD press release said. : The slogan is in fact intended to change the meaning of “tie one on for Canada.” In Greater Victoria, nmbbons are available by calling the MADD office at: 478-8696. DWI Charges and Convictions: « Upon conviction for a first offence (summary conviction), you will lose your driving privi- leges for one year and could be fined up to $2,000: You could also be jailed for up to six months. If the Crown proceeds on an indicta- ble offence, the maximum jail term is five years. e A second conviction carries in addition a mandatory jail sent- ence of 14 days to one year. If the Crown proceeds on an indictable’ offence, the maximum jail term is five years. ¢ An Impaired Driving Causing Bodily Harm conviction carries a maximum 10 year jail sentence and up to 10 years prohibition from driving. . ¢ Adnnking driving conviction results in a permanent criminal record, which in tum could affect entrance info some countries and professions. e Each year in British Colum- bia an average of about 15,000 drivers are charged under the Criminal Code of Canada with Driving While Impaired. « One out of every five criminal court cases heard in British Columbia is for impaired driving. MADD’S CAMPAIGN asks motonsts to tie a red ribbon around a side-view mirror to raise awareness about drink- ing ariving. Impaired drivers in Central Saa- nich have a tough time avoiding police roadblocks. Not even the police know where theyll set-up the next one. “We have a lot of roving road- blocks,” deputy police Chief George Lawson said last week. “The guys are working them virtually every night and we have had a few impaired drivers.” Police find that running Counter Attack roadblocks on the Pat Bay Highway is difficult and “we find more impaired drivers on the side roads. “The constables on duty decide the best place to set up and they often move a couple times during the night,” Lawson said. Saturday night’s enforcement activities netted two impaired drivers. Other drivers who had been drinking were issued 24-hour driver’s licence suspensions. “We probably pick up more (drivers) per police officer to size _ of jurisdiction than the police do downtown,’ Lawson said. Some of the main arteries in the municipality are targeted for spur= of-the-moment roadblocks. Locations can include Mt. New- ton Crossroad and East Saanich Road, Wallace Drive and Stellys Crossroad, Keating Crossroad and Veyaness Road, and West Saanich Road in Brentwood Bay. “A lot of the roadblocks are not necessarily to catch impaired driv- ers but to increase our visibility,” Lawson said. “People go through and tell their friends and they realize they might get stopped tonight.” The Central Saanich police department and its reserve consta- bles have also assisted Greater Victoria police departments in operating Counter Attack road- blocks in other municipalities this holiday season. DEC.S C - JAN. 3 DRINKING DRIVING OUNTERATIACK ADAMS Be Safe- Wishing you all a very safe Have a safe & happy JUST US Wishing you a safe and Happy New Year 9570 Northlawn Terrace Sidney 656-4754 G8 AAE See ee GORDON HULME LTD. 2444 Beacon Ave., Sidney 656-1154 Group Transportation... The only way to get there! Serving Vancouver Island & The Gulf Islands 656-9919 Wishing You a Safe and Happy New Year! 9750 Third St., Sidney 656-8866 =r and Happy New Year. New Year! ELEETRONICS Have a a bae ay LTD. ee : a designated driver... + ye EO Gov Insurance Gentre TV. - VCR - STEREO - ere’s to a Safe |. SEEES g SENSE and Happy 1993! iis GURTONS TOWING ee 2841 if YOU 5 SS ee eh Ne I Corner of ee Brentwood oe Ave. Ont arive: SACON ENS) & E. Saanich Rd. Dri . idney #3-9843 2nd St., Sidney 656-9650 pons eC PEMBERTON 656.0911 656-4351 <= SS “RESTAURANT LTD. porMaAn’s| Have a Safe and Fs z ea CARPET Happy New Year! The Best View in Town! CLEANERS | For all your insurance needs: Bevan Ave., Sidney 656-1131 Here’s to a Safe and Happy New Year to One and All! #2526 Bevan Ave., Sidney 656-0144 “CHECK OUT OUR GREAT SERVICE!" FLINT MOTORS LTD. 1993! , atic COLOVE: {Sidnev'sdeading complete Home “Decorating Centre}. 22 OT73 pte Se aoraney. 656= es A Safe And Happy & ~ pierllc one: restaurant. : a the sea - Greek Food - Seatood - Steaks - Pasta - - Chicken - TO A SAFE NEW YEAR! 9500 Beacon Ave., Sidney 656-1224 Have a Safe and Happy New Year! 9817 Resthaven Dr. Sidney 656-5544 Be Aware Be Safe! BEACON AUTO PARTS LTD. 9802 - 5th St, Sidney 656-0123 eg