(Montreal) Quebec police services point out that a concerted national operation is targeting driving a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs until January 2.
Police interventions carried out in collaboration with road inspectors from the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) result in screenings which could be carried out at checkpoints.
In parallel with this operation, an awareness campaign is being deployed, particularly on the various social media platforms of police organizations. This campaign aims to remind drivers of the consequences of driving while impaired.
The SAAQ is holding an awareness campaign until January 11 under the theme “When you drink, you don’t drive”. This campaign aims to remind people that it is risky to drive after consuming alcohol, even in small quantities.
Authorities advise that when drinking, it is better to have an alternative solution for a safe return, such as using a designated driver, taxi, public transportation, a ride service or hospitality. of a loved one.
The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) reports that between 2017 and 2021, on average, alcohol was a factor in 25% of fatal collisions and in 15% of collisions with serious injuries.
For its part, the SAAQ adds that 43% of drivers aged 16 to 24 who lost their lives in an accident occurring in Quebec from 2013 to 2017 had alcohol in their blood. And nearly one in five alcohol-related offenses in 2017 was committed by drivers aged 16 to 24 even though they represented only 8% of driving license holders in Quebec.
The police remind that only time allows the effects linked to the consumption of alcohol or drugs to dissipate. In addition, the practice of estimating one’s own blood alcohol level before getting behind the wheel presents significant risks and should therefore be avoided.
And the police insist: the effect of a single consumption should in no case be underestimated.