Not just alcohol, prescription medication can also impair

White Rock

2021-11-26 09:14 PST

Officers at the White Rock RCMP detachment will be out this holiday season in an effort to deter impaired driving, and in particular, drug impaired driving. Over the last year, additional officers were trained on the Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) and an additional Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) was certified. The SFST provides enhanced skills on detecting alcohol and drug impairment, while the DRE officer uses advance skills to support drug impaired charges. The effectiveness of the training was demonstrated by one officer that recently completed the SFST and DRE courses, resulting in 22 drug and alcohol impaired drivers removed from the road.

Most impaired driving interceptions by police happen prior to any collision, but this is not always the case. In White Rock this year, officers have responded to drivers that have smashed into parked cars, collided with other motorists, rammed a police vehicle, hit barriers, barreled through red lights, and nearly missed pedestrians, all while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

"Illegal or recreation drugs do not mix with driving, but it must also be stressed that not following warnings on prescription medication can lead to driver impairment that has serious safety and legal consequences," states Staff Sergeant Kale Pauls. Our detachment is well equipped with trained officers and roadside screening devices to detect a multitude of substances that may cause driver impairment. This is zero tolerance enforcement and you will see many check stops throughout December to detect and deter impaired driving.

RCMP car in the dark with emergency lights on