Business
Drive smart, not drunk, this holiday season
Drive smart, not drunk, this holiday season
About this update from Canlan Ice Sports Corp.
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\nDec. 4, 2009 (Canada NewsWire Group) -- VANCOUVER, Dec. 4 /CNW/ -- The province, ICBC and police are reminding drivers to drive smart and find an alternative way home if they'll be out drinking this holiday season.Tonight, Solicitor General Kash Heed launched the annual CounterAttack campaign with ICBC and police at roadchecks near Canlan Ice Sports in Burnaby, one of the many sports facilities partnering with ICBC to curb drinking and driving.\"Every single year people are needlessly injured or killed because someone made a bad choice,\" said Solicitor General Kash Heed. \"Impaired driving is against the law and excuses from those who would put lives at risk will not be tolerated.\"On average, 3,000 people are injured and 116 people die in 5,100 alcohol-related crashes each year.*At the launch event, Dr. Roy Purssell, an emergency physician at Vancouver General Hospital, addressed the serious consequences of mixing alcohol and driving. \"Studies have shown that significant impairment occurs when you have a blood alcohol concentration of .02 (a quarter of the legal driving limit). And when a driver has a BAC between .10 and .14, he's 48 times more likely to cause a fatal crash than a sober driver. Crash survivors may spend months in the hospital recovering from serious injuries or be left with a permanent disability.\"\"Making a smart choice by choosing a designated driver, taking transit, calling a cab or Operation Red Nose or spending a night at a friend's house are all easy alternatives to driving home drunk,\" added Nicolas Jimenez, ICBC's road safety director.In addition to TV advertising, ICBC is partnering with businesses and sports facilities to raise awareness about drinking and driving. ICBC also supports Operation Red Nose (operationnezrouge.com), a volunteer service in 17 communities across B.C. that provide safe rides home to all motorists who have been drinking or feel unfit to drive during the holiday season. On average, alcohol-related collisions cost ICBC and drivers more than $140 million in claims costs every year.(xx)During December, police across the province will be out in full force checking for drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs. Impaired drivers stopped at roadchecks or elsewhere face a range of penalties from 24-hour prohibitions and vehicle impoundments, 90-day administrative driving prohibit...