Fewer drunk drivers caught in B.C. this summer, but...
Police said a shorter six-week campaign and staffing redeployments helped drive the decline from 626 prohibitions last year.
- On Tuesday, BCRCMP reported issuing 229 impaired driving prohibitions during the 2026 Summer Impaired Driving Campaign, down from 626 bans recorded last year.
- Supt. Lori Orstad cited temporary staffing redeployments and a much shorter campaign as significant factors; this year's campaign ran six weeks compared to ten weeks last year.
- Regional breakdown shows the South Coast recorded 97 prohibitions, followed by Northern B.C. with 58, Vancouver Island with 32, Central B.C. with 24, and the Kootenay region with 13.
- Drug-Impaired driving prohibitions fell to 18 from 78, though police emphasized they are still intercepting too many drivers who choose to drive while impaired.
- The campaign excluded the July 24-27 Shambhala Music Festival, where 78 drug-impaired files were initiated. Orstad expects enforcement to return to normal now that resources have been redeployed back.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Northern B.C. shows decrease in impaired driving prohibitions in summer campaign
A BC Highway Patrol officer looks on as a tesla is loaded onto a tow truck. (BC Highway Patrol) FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The BC Highway Patrol’s 2026 Summer Impaired Driving Campaign (SIDC), shows a decrease in impaired driving and drug prohibitions in northern B.C. On Aug. 18, BC Highway Patrol released enforcement numbers of its impaired driving campaign, which ran from June 15 to July 31. According to BC Highway Patrol, northern B.C. recorded 5…
Kootenays see 13 impaired driving prohibitions during RCMP campaign - Creston Valley Advance
Impaired-driving prohibitions issued by BC Highway Patrol in the East and West Kootenays dropped sharply during this year’s summer enforcement campaign, although police say a shorter campaign and temporary staffing redeployments were significant factors. BC Highway Patrol issued 13 impaired-driving prohibitions across the Kootenays during the 2026 Summer Impaired Driving Campaign, compared with 88 during last year’s campaign. Two of this year’s …
Summer campaign sees 24 impaired drivers removed from Kamloops-area highways: BC Highway Patrol
KAMLOOPS — There were far fewer impaired driving prohibitions issued than usual on highways in the Kamloops area during the most “problematic timeframe of the year.” According to the latest numbers from BC Highway Patrol, 24 impaired driving prohibitions were issued in Central B.C., which includes Clearwater, Kamloops, Kelowna and Merritt, from June 15 to July 31, 2026. It’s part of Highway Patrol’s Summer Impaired Driver Campaign (SIDC). Whil…
229 impaired driving bans issued on B.C. highways so far this summer - Grand Forks Gazette
B.C. Highway Patrol says its 2026 Summer Impaired Driving Campaign saw “significantly fewer” bans, but it wasn’t just because B.C. drivers were doing a better job of driving sober. Police issued 229 impaired driving prohibitions during the 2026 Summer Impaired Driving Campaign, which ran from June 15 to July 31. Eighteen of those bans were related to drugs. It’s “significantly less” than the 2025 campaign, in which 626 prohibitions were issued. …
229 impaired driving bans issued on B.C. highways so far this summer - Vanderhoof Omineca Express
B.C. Highway Patrol says its 2026 Summer Impaired Driving Campaign saw “significantly fewer” bans, but it wasn’t just because B.C. drivers were doing a better job of driving sober. Police issued 229 impaired driving prohibitions during the 2026 Summer Impaired Driving Campaign, which ran from June 15 to July 31. Eighteen of those bans were related to drugs. It’s “significantly less” than the 2025 campaign, in which 626 prohibitions were issued. …
The Free Press
Today In BC229 impaired driving bans issued on B.C. highways so far this summer
B.C. Highway Patrol says its 2026 Summer Impaired Driving Campaign saw “significantly fewer” bans, but it wasn’t just because B.C. drivers were doing a better job of driving sober. Police issued 229 impaired driving prohibitions during the 2026 Summer Impaired Driving Campaign, which ran from June 15 to July 31. Eighteen of those bans were related to drugs. It’s “significantly less” than the 2025 campaign, in which 626 prohibitions were issued. …
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