BCAA Road Safety Foundation

Impaired Driving Is Not A Summer Sport

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:00:31 +0000

Burnaby, BC / May 16, 2012 – Are you looking forward to the May long weekend – backyard barbeques, golfing with your buddies, trips to the beach, or just hanging out on a patio?

Many of these events include the consumption of alcohol and the summer months see an increase in vehicle crashes caused by impaired drivers.

The BCAA Road Safety Foundation has a message – if you consume alcohol or drugs do not get behind the steering wheel of a vehicle.

“It is unacceptable that on average two people die each week in our province due to impaired drivers,” stated Allan Lamb, President and COO of the BCAA Road Safety Foundation. “It is also unacceptable that 4,400 alcohol-related collisions are reported each year. It is imperative that those numbers go down significantly.”

Lamb adds, “We as a community are responsible for bringing an end to impaired driving.”

The bulk of the responsibility is the driver’s, but it is also the responsibility of hosts, friends and family not to let an individual drive a vehicle if they are suspected of being impaired by alcohol or drugs. More information about impaired driving is available on the BCAA Road Safety website at www.BCAARoadSafety.com.

The BCAA Road Safety Foundation, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC), and the parents of Alexa Middelaer recently honoured 355 police officers from around the province for their diligence in enforcing the impaired driving laws of our province. In 2011, Alexa’s Team removed 12,923 impaired drivers from the road and helped reduce the number of individuals killed by impaired drivers by 40 per cent.

Information about B.C.’s impaired driving laws is available on the Office of the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles website.

# # #

About BCAA Road Safety Foundation

The BCAA Road Safety Foundation is a non-profit registered charity working with families, communities and business partners to reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes and injuries in B.C. For more information visit www.BCAARoadSafety.com or call 604-298-5107.

DRIVE TO SAVE LIVES

www.BCAARoadSafety.com

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URL for this media release is: http://www.bcaaroadsafety.com/category/news-releases/

For further information, contact:

Lennea Durant	Allan Lamb
Media Relations	President and COO
BCAA Road Safety Foundation	BCAA Road Safety Foundation
Tel: 604-875-1182	Tel: 604-297-2151
E-mail: lenneadurant@bcaaroadsafety.com	E-mail: allan.lamb@bcaa.com

Alexa’s Team Wins CCMTA Award

admin — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:30:08 +0000

MEDIA RELEASE

Alexa’s Team Impaired Driving Reduction Partnership

wins Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators

Police Partnership Award

Burnaby, B.C. / May 10, 2012 – The BCAA Road Safety Foundation, the Middelaer family and the Insurance Corporation of B.C. (ICBC) are proud of the national recognition that Alexa’s Team has received.

The R.C.M.P. Lower Mainland District has won this year’s Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) Police Partnership Award for the “Alexa’s Team Impaired Driving Reduction Partnership” lead by Insp. Ted Emanuels, R.C.M.P. Traffic Services Operations Officer, Lower Mainland.

“It is an honour to be able to work with such a visionary,” stated Allan Lamb, President and COO of the BCAA Road Safety Foundation. “I have worked with Inspector Emanuels on many road safety initiatives, but the scope and growth of Alexa’s Team has been truly inspiring.”

The connections and partnerships established via Alexa’s Team are very compelling and broad-based. Most significantly Alexa’s Team has contributed to positive reductions in fatalities and serious injuries serving the vision of making Canada’s roads the safest in the world.

The BCAA Road Safety Foundation and the Middelaer family recently welcomed the Insurance Corporation of B.C. (ICBC) as a partner in Alexa’s Team.

“ICBC congratulates Alexa’s Team on achieving this prestigious national recognition,” said Fiona Temple, ICBC’s director of road safety. “Alexa’s Team shows us that with the dedication and hard work of police officers and partners, we can help keep our roads safe from impaired drivers. We’re committed to this remarkable program that is truly making a difference – we want everyone to get to where they’re going and return home safely.”

On May 17, 2008 at approximately 5:00 p.m. a vehicle left a residential road in Delta, struck two pedestrians, a parked vehicle and finally came to rest on a power pole. One of the pedestrians, 4-year old Alexa Renée Middelaer died of her injuries. The driver, a 56-year old woman was later convicted of impaired driving causing bodily harm and death.

“Inspector Ted Emanuels is a dedicated man of vision, who knows his members, and understands how motivation and recognition can change behaviour,” said Laurel Middelaer, the mother of Alexa Middelaer, for whom the team was named.

“He realized that a story, albeit a tragic story, can drive change. Inspector Emanuels is a true bright light, a leader who has brought purpose and change from a loss—our admiration for him is immense,” added Michael Middelaer, Alexa’s father.

The Middelaers are pleased that Emanuels is being recognized for this award, “He is a great leader, but more so, an amazing person. He has made our life a little bit better. Alexa would have loved him.”

Alexa’s Team is a program that recognizes R.C.M.P. and Municipal police officers that make an extraordinary contribution in reducing the number of impaired drivers on the roads of our communities. Since 2008 the number of team members has grown significantly, from 26 to 355 in 2011 and members have processed more than 32,000 impaired driving charges and penalties.

Alexa’s Team members are recognized at a series of receptions held in Metro Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna and Prince George

Insp. Emanuels accepted the Police Partnership Award at the CCMTA Annual Meeting in Winnipeg.

# # #

About BCAA Road Safety Foundation

DRIVE TO SAVE LIVES

www.BCAARoadSafety.com

- 30 -

For further information, contact:

Lennea Durant
Media Relations
BCAA Road Safety Foundation
Tel: 604-875-1182
E-mail: lenneadurant@bcaaroadsafety.com

Allan Lamb
President and COO
BCAA Road Safety Foundation
Tel: 604-297-2151
E-mail: allan.lamb@bcaa.com

North Region Alexa’s Team Members Honoured

admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:00:24 +0000

Over 12,900 impaired drivers removed from B.C.’s roads by

Alexa’s Team in 2011

The BCAA Road Safety Foundation honours local Alexa’s Team members

Prince George, B.C. / May 3, 2012 – Alexa’s Team removed 12,923 impaired drivers from B.C.’s roads in 2011, making the province safer for all road users.

Today the BCAA Road Safety Foundation honoured 45 police officers from the north region as members of “Alexa’s Team” in recognition of their diligence in removing impaired drivers from the roads of our communities.

Formed in 2008, Alexa’s Team has grown from 26 members to 355 R.C.M.P. and Municipal police officers from all corners of the province. Since 2008, Alexa’s Team members have processed 32,743 impaired driving charges or penalties against drivers in violation of B.C’s impaired driving laws.

To be nominated for Alexa’s Team, police officers must have removed at least 12 impaired drivers from the road in the previous calendar year through a Criminal Charge investigation or the new Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP) administrative process, in addition to issuing Administrative Driving Prohibitions, IRP Fails, and IRP Refusals.

The BCAA Road Safety Foundation and the Middelaer family are pleased to welcome the Insurance Corporation of B.C. (ICBC) as a partner in Alexa’s Team. “We’re proud to be a part of this remarkable initiative that helps get impaired drivers off the road,” said Fiona Temple, ICBC’s director of road safety. “We’re committed to road safety to help prevent such tragedies – we want everyone to get to where they’re going and return home safely.”

Alexa Middelaer was only four and a half years old when an impaired driver killed her in 2008 while she stood with her aunt on the side of the road feeding a horse.

“The story of Alexa has inspired police officers to join Alexa’s Team,” stated Allan Lamb, President and COO of the BCAA Road Safety Foundation. “We are proud to be able to celebrate their diligence and commitment to enforcing impaired driving laws.”

“The 355 R.C.M.P. and municipal police department members of Alexa’s Team demonstrates a real commitment by the police to remove impaired drivers from B.C.’s roads,” stated Inspector Ted Emanuels, R.C.M.P. Traffic Services Operations Officer for the Lower Mainland. “Fatalities from impaired driving in R.C.M.P. jurisdictions dropped by 40 % in 2011, from 125 in 2010 to a historic low of 74. This significant decrease can be attributed in part to the efforts of these dedicated police officers.”

“These are the men and women who are fundamentally responsible for making our roads safe,” stated Laurel Middelaer, mother of Alexa. “They have delivered on their promise in an exceptional and meaningful way, and we are proud to be recognizing their excellence today, in honour of our daughter, Alexa.”

For more information about the BCAA Road Safety Foundation and how you can help fight impaired driving visit www.BCAARoadSafety.com.

2011 Alexa’s Team Stats:

Team Members	RTCCs	ADPs	24 Hr.	IRP Fail	IRP Refuse	IRP Warn	Total
355	778	238	1,942	5,581	430	3,954	12,923

Representing Prince George:

Cst. Ron Miciuk North District Traffic Services – CVSE/DRE/SFST

Cst. Greg OLSON Prince George Regional Provincial Traffic - IRSU

Cst. Jason GILLIS Prince George Regional Provincial Traffic - IRSU

Cst. Joe McLELLAND Prince George Regional Provincial Traffic - IRSU

Cst. John BURNS Prince George Regional Provincial Traffic - IRSU

Cst. Rob DICKSON Prince George Regional Provincial Traffic - IRSU

Sgt. Al STEINHAUSER Prince George Municipal Traffic Services

Cst. Leslie SMITH Prince George Municipal Traffic Services

Cst. Bryan DUNNETT Prince George Municipal Traffic Services

Cst. Brian DAVIS Prince George Municipal Traffic Services *All-Star

Cst. Rob JANSSENS Prince George Municipal Traffic Services

Cst. Mike JARECKI Prince George Municipal Detachment – General Duty

Cst. Brent MOERIKE Prince George Municipal Detachment – General Duty

Total impaired drivers removed = 562

* All-Star team members are the top impaired driving investigators in the province. Each of them has taken at least 34 criminally impaired drivers off the road in 2011.

About BCAA Road Safety Foundation

DRIVE TO SAVE LIVES

www.BCAARoadSafety.com

- 30 -

For further information, contact:

Lennea Durant Allan Lamb

Media Relations President & COO

BCAA Road Safety Foundation BCAA Road Safety Foundation

Tel: 604-875-1182 Tel: 604-297-2151

E-mail: lenneadurant@bcaaroadsafety.com E-mail: allan.lamb@bcaa.com

Southeast Region Alexa’s Team Members Honoured

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:00:30 +0000

Over 12,900 impaired drivers removed from B.C.’s roads by

Alexa’s Team in 2011

The BCAA Road Safety Foundation honours local Alexa’s Team members

Kelowna, B.C. / May 1, 2012 – Alexa’s Team removed 12,923 impaired drivers from B.C.’s roads in 2011, making the province safer for all road users.

Today the BCAA Road Safety Foundation honoured 68 police officers in southeastern region of B.C. as members of “Alexa’s Team” in recognition of their diligence in removing impaired drivers from the roads of our communities.

Alexa Middelaer was only four and a half years old when an impaired driver killed her in 2008 while she stood with her aunt on the side of the road feeding a horse.

For more information about the BCAA Road Safety Foundation and how you can help fight impaired driving visit www.BCAARoadSafety.com.

2011 Alexa’s Team Stats:

Team Members	RTCCs	ADPs	24 Hr.	IRP Fail	IRP Refuse	IRP Warn	Total
355	778	238	1,942	5,581	430	3,954	12,923

Representing Kelowna

Cst. Chad LUCASH                 SED IRSU Kelowna
Cst. Brad SMITH                     SED IRSU Kelowna                 * All-Star
Cst. Micha YAKONOWSKY     SED IRSU Kelowna
Cpl. Mike McVICAR                 SED IRSU Kelowna
Cst. Sheldon HERMAN                        Kelowna Traffic Services        * All-Star
Cst. Troy LaPLANTE               Kelowna RCMP Detachment
Cst. Kyle BOFFY                     Kelowna Traffic Services
Cst. Vince CESARONE                        Kelowna RCMP Detachment   * All-Star
Cst. Jon LEROUX                   Kelowna RCMP Detachment
Cst. Beth PAETZ                     Kelowna RCMP Detachment
Cst. Ryan BENNETT                Kelowna RCMP Detachment   * All-Star
Cst. Chris NEID                      Kelowna Traffic Services
Cst. Bob CHARRON                Kelowna Traffic Services
Cst. Tibor BALDAUF               Kelowna Traffic Services
Cst. Gevan DALE                     Kelowna Traffic Services        * All-Star
Cst. Gabi PROMMER              Kelowna RCMP Detachment
Cst. Cory SCHNEIDER            Kelowna Traffic Services
Cpl. Jayson Lucash                 West Kelowna Municipal Police
Cst. Kent Hall                          West Kelowna Rural Police

Total impaired drivers removed = 952

* All-Star team members are the top impaired driving investigators in the province. Each of them has taken at least 34 criminally impaired drivers off the road in 2011.

About BCAA Road Safety Foundation

DRIVE TO SAVE LIVES

www.BCAARoadSafety.com

- 30 -

For further information, contact:

Lennea Durant, Media Relations Allan Lamb, President & COO

BCAA Road Safety Foundation BCAA Road Safety Foundation

Tel: 604-875-1182 Tel: 604-297-2151

E-mail: lenneadurant@bcaaroadsafety.com E-mail: allan.lamb@bcaa.com

Cst. Chad LUCASH SED IRSU Kelowna

Cst. Brad SMITH SED IRSU Kelowna * All-Star

Cst. Micha YAKONOWSKY SED IRSU Kelowna

Cpl. Mike McVICAR SED IRSU Kelowna

Cst. Sheldon HERMAN Kelowna Traffic Services * All-Star

Cst. Troy LaPLANTE Kelowna RCMP Detachment

Cst. Kyle BOFFY Kelowna Traffic Services

Cst. Vince CESARONE Kelowna RCMP Detachment * All-Star

Cst. Jon LEROUX Kelowna RCMP Detachment

Cst. Beth PAETZ Kelowna RCMP Detachment

Cst. Ryan BENNETT Kelowna RCMP Detachment * All-Star

Cst. Chris NEID Kelowna Traffic Services

Cst. Bob CHARRON Kelowna Traffic Services

Cst. Tibor BALDAUF Kelowna Traffic Services

Cst. Gevan DALE Kelowna Traffic Services * All-Star

Cst. Gabi PROMMER Kelowna RCMP Detachment

Cst. Cory SCHNEIDER Kelowna Traffic Services

Cpl. Jayson Lucash West Kelowna Municipal Police

Cst. Kent Hall West Kelowna Rural Police

Vancouver Island Alexa’s Team Members Honoured

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:00:40 +0000

Over 12,900 impaired drivers removed from B.C.’s roads by

Alexa’s Team in 2011

The BCAA Road Safety Foundation honours local Alexa’s Team members

Victoria, B.C. / April 26, 2012 – Alexa’s Team removed 12,923 impaired drivers from B.C.’s roads in 2011, making the province safer for all road users.

Today the BCAA Road Safety Foundation and ICBC honoured 77 police officers from Vancouver Island as members of “Alexa’s Team” in recognition of their diligence in removing impaired drivers from the roads of our communities.

To be nominated for Alexa’s Team, police officers must have removed at least 12 impaired drivers from the road through a Criminal Charge investigation or the new Immediate Roadside Prohibition (IRP) administrative process, in addition to issuing Administrative Driving Prohibitions, IRP Fails, and IRP Refusals.

Alexa Middelaer was only four and a half years old when an impaired driver killed her in 2008 while she stood with her aunt on the side of the road feeding a horse.

While the number of deaths and injuries caused by impaired driving is down, Lamb quoted Transport Canada statistics that show impaired drivers cost the B.C. economy $1.6 billion per year, not including the cost of police, ambulance or courts.

A year ago, Alexa’s parents, the City of Surrey and the BCAA Road Safety Foundation launched “Back the Bus”, a fundraising campaign to raise money to bring Mobile Impaired Driving Units (MIDUs) to British Columbia. These motor home styled vehicles, containing on-site breath testing equipment, are another tool that can be used at roadside to process impaired drivers and educate the public about the dangers of impaired driving.

“As a family, we believe in equipping our police with the best tools possible to increase their effectiveness in protecting our roads,” stated Michael Middelaer. “These mobile units are part of a best practice approach employed by other leading countries and provinces in road safety.”

“It is deeply satisfying to know that we have the funds for this effective tool, and are in the process of procuring this mobile unit for educational and enforcement purposes in BC,” added Laurel Middelaer.

For more information about the BCAA Road Safety Foundation and how you can help fight impaired driving visit www.BCAARoadSafety.com.

# # #

2011 Alexa’s Team Stats:

Team Members	RTCCs	ADPs	24 Hr.	IRP Fail	IRP Refuse	IRP Warn	Total
355	778	238	1,942	5581	430	3,954	12,923

Representing the Capital Regional District:
Cst. Paul Brookes	Victoria Police Department
Sgt. Alex Yelovatz	Victoria Police Department
Cst. Simon De Wit	Victoria Police Department
Cst. Andy Dunstan	Victoria Police Department
Cst. Dawndra Tolsma	Victoria Police Department

Cst. Kent Nelson	Sidney/North Saanich RCMP
Cst. Anton Ermolaev	Sidney/North Saanich RCMP
Cst. Kyle Martell	Sidney/North Saanich RCMP
Cst. Brad Lougheed	Sidney/North Saanich RCMP

Cst. Michael Bainbridge	Saanich Police
Cst. Richard Burdet	Saanich Police
Cst. Jonathan Cawsey	Saanich Police
Cst. Mark Prill	Saanich Police
Cst. Bima Ribeiro	Saanich Police/OSMV

Cst. Eric Thompson	Oak Bay Police

Cst. Marc Julien	West Shore RCMP
Cst. Tad Narraway	West Shore RCMP
Cst. Justin Floyd	West Shore RCMP

Cst. Ryan Danilowich	South Isl. Traffic Services
Cst. Mark MacKinnon	South Isl. Traffic Services
Cst. Brad Robinson	South Isl. Traffic Services
Cst. Brian Sampson (Jr)	South Isl. Traffic Services
Cst. Austin Rowbotham	South Isl. Traffic Services

Cst. Scott Buckler	CRD IRSU
Cst. Paul Cain	CRD IRSU
Cst. Robert Figueiredo	CRD IRSU
Cst. Michael Klein-Beekman	CRD IRSU
Cst. Mark Kubitza	CRD IRSU
Cst. Brendon LeBlanc	CRD IRSU
Sgt. Graeme LeBlanc	CRD IRSU
Cst. Brent Robertson	CRD IRSU
Cst. Ian Ritchie	CRD IRSU
Cst. Steve Twardy	CRD IRSU

Total impaired drivers removed = 1,031

* All-Star team members are the top impaired driving investigators in the province. Each of them has taken at least 34 criminally impaired drivers off the road in 2011.

About BCAA Road Safety Foundation

DRIVE TO SAVE LIVES

www.BCAARoadSafety.com

- 30 -

For further information, contact:

Lennea Durant Allan Lamb

Media Relations President & COO

BCAA Road Safety Foundation BCAA Road Safety Foundation

Tel: 604-875-1182 Tel: 604-297-2151

E-mail: lenneadurant@bcaaroadsafety.com E-mail: allan.lamb@bcaa.com

Metro Vancouver Alexa’s Team Members Honoured

admin — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:00:34 +0000

Over 12,900 impaired drivers removed from B.C.’s roads by Alexa’s Team in 2011

The BCAA Road Safety Foundation honours local Alexa’s Team members

Surrey, B.C. / April 24, 2012 – Alexa’s Team removed 12,923 impaired drivers from B.C.’s roads in 2011, making the province safer for all road users.

Today the BCAA Road Safety Foundation and ICBC honoured 165 police officers in the Metro Vancouver area as members of “Alexa’s Team” in recognition of their diligence in removing impaired drivers from the roads of our communities.

Formed in 2008, Alexa’s Team has grown from 26 members to 355 R.C.M.P. and Municipal police officers from all corners of the province. Since 2008, Alexa’s Team members processed 32,743 impaired driving charges or penalties against drivers in violation of B.C’s impaired driving laws.

Alexa Middelaer was only four and a half years old when an impaired driver killed her in 2008 while she stood with her aunt on the side of the road feeding a horse.

For more information about the BCAA Road Safety Foundation and how you can help fight impaired driving visit www.BCAARoadSafety.com.

2011 Alexa’s Team Stats:

Team Members

RTCCs

ADPs

24 Hr.

IRP Fail

IRP Refuse

IRP Warn

Total

355

778

238

1,942

5,581

430

3,954

12,923

2011 Alexa’s Team (Surrey)

Cst. Raymond Lee Surrey Traffic Services All-Star
Cpl. Bryan Fedirchuk Surrey Traffic Services
Cst. Joe McGhee Surrey Traffic Services
Cst. Jamie Raison Surrey Traffic Services
Cst. David Toews Surrey Traffic Services
Cst. Meleady Surrey Traffic Services
Cst. Chris Waterhouse Surrey Traffic Services
Cpl. Kurt Rosenberg Surrey Traffic Services
Cst. Jose Oliveira Surrey Traffic Services
Cst Cory Kornicki Surrey General Duty

Total impaired drivers removed = 333

* All-Star team members are the top impaired driving investigators in the province. Each of them has taken at least 34 criminally impaired drivers off the road in 2011.

About BCAA Road Safety Foundation

DRIVE TO SAVE LIVES
www.BCAARoadSafety.com

- 30 -

For further information, contact:

Lennea Durant Allan Lamb

Media Relations President & COO

BCAA Road Safety Foundation BCAA Road Safety Foundation

Tel: 604-875-1182 Tel: 604-297-2151

E-mail: lenneadurant@bcaaroadsafety.com E-mail: allan.lamb@bcaa.com

Daylight saving time, don’t get caught asleep at the wheel

admin — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:00:28 +0000

Burnaby, B.C. / March 5, 2012 – On Sunday, March 11, most communities in B.C. will switch to Daylight Saving Time. That means some pretty drowsy drivers behind the wheel going to and from work the following Monday.

Driver fatigue is a dangerous condition where the symptoms of sleepiness can severely impair driving performance. Studies show that our circadian rhythms or body clocks, don’t adjust to time changes naturally. A tired driver is a dangerous driver.

Sleep deprivation impairs brain function as much as alcohol does, reducing the ability of the mind and body to respond quickly and accurately. This impairment can affect your driving ability long before you even notice you’re getting tired.

Symptoms of driver fatigue range from heavy eyelids, frequent yawning, and feeling irritable to misjudging traffic situations, being surprised by a pedestrian or cyclist and allowing your vehicle to wander or drift across the line.

Sleep related collisions, hitting a pedestrian, rear-ending the vehicle in front of you, veering off of the road and into a parked car, are very common after a time change.

Sleep is what the body really needs to be able to function properly.

The BCAA Road Safety Foundation recommends drivers do the following:

Adjust your sleep patterns before the time change.
Avoid caffeine or other substances to “wake you up”. This is short term and you may feel even more fatigued once it wears off.
For better visibility drive with your headlights on during the darker morning commute.
Be aware of the increased number of people out walking in the evenings taking advantage of the extra daylight, especially in residential areas.

# # #

About BCAA Road Safety Foundation

DRIVE TO SAVE LIVES

www.BCAARoadSafety.com

URL for this media release is: http://www.bcaaroadsafety.com/category/news-releases/

For further information, contact:

Lennea Durant	Allan Lamb
Media Relations	President and COO
BCAA Road Safety Foundation	BCAA Road Safety Foundation
Tel: 604-875-1182	Tel: 604-297-2151
E-mail: lenneadurant@bcaaroadsafety.com	E-mail: allan.lamb@bcaa.com

Website Launch – Road Safety At Work

admin — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:00:53 +0000

WorkSafeBC has launched a new online safe driving website in partnership with the BCAA Road Safety Foundation. RoadSafetyAtWork.ca will provide employers with materials and tips to make working conditions safer for people whose job involves driving.

Read the full media release

Are you keeping winter under surveillance?

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:30:00 +0000

Are you keeping winter under surveillance?

Winter driving tips to keep you and your family safer

Community / January 3, 2012 – British Columbia drivers may feel like they are at war with the elements during the winter months. Snow, black ice and fewer daylight hours can increase the risk of a crash. Here’s how you can reduce the risk and keep yourself, your family and other drivers safer on the roads this winter.

First, check travel and weather conditions before heading out and avoid driving if they are bad. Even an hour or two can make a big difference. If you can, wait until the weather improves. If you don’t have to go, then don’t.

If you have to drive, be smart. Make sure your vehicle is winterized, give yourself lots of extra time to get where you need to go and carry an emergency survival kit.

Download the following websites to your phone or add them to your web page favourites and check them often.

DriveBC.ca is a good source of current road and travel conditions.

ShiftIntoWinter.ca has tips on how to prepare yourself and your vehicle, and how to drive safely on winter roads.

Here are a few other safety tips:

Install four matched winter tires. They provide better stopping power and traction in cold weather and snow. Check for wear before mounting and check tire pressure every few weeks.
Equip your vehicle with emergency gear in case you become stranded. Carry a windshield scraper and snow brush, extra windshield washer fluid, flares and matches or a lighter, tire chains and gloves, a first aid kit, a shovel and a traction mat, sand or cat litter, a flashlight and extra batteries, battery jumper cables, a spare tire, a wheel wrench and jack, and extra clothing and footwear.
Slow down. The posted speed is the maximum speed under ideal conditions. In winter, it is safer to drive below the posted limit.

The Winter Driving Safety Alliance is a joint provincial initiative comprised of organizations committed to improving the safety of drivers during the winter months. They are BCAA Road Safety Foundation, BC Trucking Association, Insurance Corporation of BC, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, RCMP, BC Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association, WorkSafeBC, and the Trucking Safety Council of BC.

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For further information, contact:

Lennea Durant Heather Young

Media Relations Public Affairs Manager

BCAA Road Safety Foundation WorkSafeBC

Tel: 604-875-1182 Tel : 604 214-5441

E-mail: lenneadurant@bcaaroadsafety.com E-mail: Heather.Young@worksafebc.com

URL for this media release is: http://www.bcaaroadsafety.com/category/news-releases/

Impaired Driving: Some drivers still need reminding over the holiday season

admin — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:01:10 +0000

Burnaby, B.C. / December 6, 2011 – With the number of deaths and serious injuries caused by impaired drivers down by almost half in the past year, why is it still important to remind people not to drive while impaired?

Allan Lamb, President and COO of the BCAA Road Safety Foundation says it is because a significant number of drivers still get behind the wheel of a vehicle after they’ve become impaired by alcohol or drugs.

“There is an increase in social events at this time of year and a large number of those driving impaired are coming from the company of friends, colleagues and family,” stated Lamb. “It is simply not an option to drive impaired or to allow someone you know may be impaired to leave your company and get behind the wheel of a car.”

In 2009, the BCAA Road Safety Foundation helped establish Alexa’s Team in memory of Alexa Middelaer who was killed by an impaired driver in May of 2008. Over the past three years the team has grown to over 400 RCMP and municipal police officers from all regions of the province.

In November, Premier Christy Clark announced that alcohol-related motor vehicle deaths had been reduced by 40 per cent during the one-year period under Canada’s toughest penalties for impaired driving.

Premier Clark also announced a commitment to help fund another tool for police, a mobile road safety bus that will focus on impaired driving education and enforcement.

The BCAA Road Safety Foundation and the Middelaer family are encouraged by these two announcements and are pleased that British Columbians are working to save the lives of their friends, neighbours, co-workers and family members.

Referring to the recent court ruling on the immediate roadside prohibition ruling, Lamb reminds drivers that police are enforcing impaired driving laws and any driver that blows over .08 will still face the possibility of charges under the Criminal Code.

Here are a few tips from the BCAA Road Safety Foundation to keep you, your friends and family members safe on the roads this holiday season:

Plan Your Night Out – Leave the car at home and take public transit, taxis or arrange for a designated driver service. You can even call a tow truck to take you and your car home. If the party is at a friend’s house, plan to spend the night and drive home the next day after the effects of the alcohol have worn off.

Be a designated driver – Take turns being the designated driver – when it’s your turn, stick to beverages without alcohol.

Be a Good Host – Make sure your friends live to remember the good cheer. Have a variety of alcohol-fee beverages like pop, juice, coffee, tea or even trendy “mocktails” on hand. Make sure some of the guests have agreed to be designated drivers and will not consume any alcohol. If you are concerned that any of your guests are impaired, call a taxi or offer the spare bed or the couch. A disagreement over safety with a friend is better than risking the alternative.

Role Modelling – Parents, remember your kids watch and learn from you. It’s important that you demonstrate safe and healthy driving behaviours at all times. Don’t drive impaired

Call Home Anytime – Young people like Christmas parties, too. Often they don’t want to admit that they or their friends drink or use drugs if it means their parents will be angry. To them it’s worth the risk to drive or ride with a driver who is impaired. A “family contract” agrees that the kids can call home at any hour for a safe ride home.

Drug Impairment – Be aware of anyone who is impaired by something other than alcohol, whether it’s medications or illegal drugs such as marijuana. Mixing alcohol and drugs can be lethal for all road users.

# # #

About BCAA Road Safety Foundation

DRIVE TO SAVE LIVES

www.BCAARoadSafety.com

- 30 -

URL for this media release is: http://www.bcaaroadsafety.com/category/news-releases/

For further information, contact:

Lennea Durant Allan Lamb

Media Relations President and COO

BCAA Road Safety Foundation BCAA Road Safety Foundation

Tel: 604-875-1182 Tel: 604-297-2151

E-mail: lenneadurant@shaw.ca E-mail: allan.lamb@bcaa.com