News releases
North Region Alexa’s Team Members Honoured
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
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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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
