Between family get-togethers, office parties and champagne-fueled New Year’s Eve parties, the holiday season can provide more opportunities for dangerous behaviours like drunk driving.
According to ICBC, on average 65 people die in crashes every year where impaired driving is involved and impaired driving is one of the top three contributing factors for fatal crashes. The holidays are a time for spreading cheer and love – so make the right choice this season and leave your car at home if you plan on drinking.
As of early December, RCMP have started to increase the number of holiday check-stops in an effort to encourage people to make smart choices where alcohol and driving are involved.
If you plan to drink, there’s no excuse to not plan ahead. Take a taxi if public transportation isn’t an option. The holidays could also be a good time for you and your friends to hire a car service (limo or taxi) for the night if you don’t have a designated driver.
Prescription drugs and alcohol don’t mix. Remember to read labels carefully and talk with your doctor about alcohol use if you’ve been prescribed any medications.
If you’re hosting a party, be a good host or hostess by monitoring everyone’s alcohol consumption and match every party-goer with a sober designated driver at the end of the night. Alternatively, you might want to consider being the designated driver yourself to make sure that everyone gets home safely.
There are also designated driver services available in communities across B.C. like Operation Red Nose and BCAA’s Safe-Ride-Home Service. Some public transit networks also offer special holiday services on New Year’s Eve so check your local public transportation provider before leaving the house.
B.C. is home to the toughest impaired driving laws in the country. If you’re caught behind the wheel while under the influence in B.C., your license will be suspended from 24 hours up to 90 days and your vehicle will be impounded on the spot.
Drunk driving fines range from $600 all the way up to $4,060 and jail time may be a possibility. Depending on the offence, the driver may also face mandatory rehabilitation. Another consequence is also the installation of an ignition interlock device where the driver must provide clean breath samples before the vehicle will start and also at random intervals during the drive.
You may have a good grasp of your own limit, but the law has no flexibility when it comes to the legal limit. In the province, the legal limit under the BC Motors Act is under 0.05 blood alcohol content. For drivers with Novice or Learners licences, there is no acceptable alcohol limit. Novice and Leaners drivers will be suspended for 12 hours and required to start their licensing stage over if any alcohol is detected.
AutoNote: With holiday shopping happening full swing in shopping centres across the province, ICBC is urging drivers to be vigilant when leaving their vehicles unattended. About 10,000 vehicle break-ins were reported in the province last year, many of which could have been prevented. Remember to park in well-lit areas and keep your vehicle free of electronics, holiday gifts and other valuables when you leave your car unattended.
Blair Qualey is President and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association of BC. You can email him at [email protected].
