News releases

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.

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 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.”

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.

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2011 Alexa’s Team Stats:

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

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