BC Highway Patrol removed 626 impaired drivers from June 15 to August 31, according to results from the 2025 Summer Impaired Driving Campaign.
The numbers highlight regional differences. Northern B.C. recorded 146 impaired drivers, despite having a smaller population. Metro Vancouver, the Sea to Sky corridor, and the eastern Fraser Valley had 150 cases, while Vancouver Island saw 131. Central B.C. recorded 111 and the Kootenay region had 88, with 31 drug-impaired cases.
“Impaired driving is the leading cause of criminal death in B.C.,” said Superintendent Mike Coyle, Operations Officer of BC Highway Patrol. “It’s simply unacceptable to think that it’s OK to drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs.”
Police also expanded the use of Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS) across the province. MAS allows officers to demand an immediate breath sample during any lawful traffic stop, without needing prior suspicion. Refusing the test is a criminal offence.
In one August 1 incident in Kootenay National Park, a driver was clocked at 153 km/h in a 90 km/h zone. MAS testing revealed alcohol impairment.
The driver received a three-day suspension, a $368 fine, a seven-day vehicle impound, and faces high-risk insurance premiums expected to bring total costs to about $2,500.
According to BC Highway Patrol, impaired driving, speeding, and distracted driving remain the top three contributors to fatal collisions in the province.
