This week alone, RCMP have arrested three people for impaired driving on Nova Scotia roadways.
The latest incident happened on Thursday morning, around 5 a.m., when police were called to the 2400 block of Lawrencetown Road following a single-vehicle crash. RCMP say the man failed to negotiate a turn, left the road, rolled several times across the front lawn of two homes, and severed a utility pole. The vehicle was extensively damaged and the crash caused significant damage to the utility lines in the area.
The driver, a 28-year-old man from Westphal, N.S., was arrested at the scene and has charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle and operating over the legal limit.
READ: Man charged with impaired driving following crash in Lawrencetown
Anissa Aldridge, the Atlantic regional director for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), says about four Canadians are killed every day in impairment-related crashes.
“It’s just a little overwhelming every singe day to hear on the radio or hear on the news that someone else has been affected by an impairment-related crash,” said Aldridge.
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Earlier this week, a 40-year-old Fredericton man was driving along Highway 104 in Beaver Mountain, Antigonish County, when his vehicle struck a guardrail. The incident happened shortly for 8 a.m. on Tuesday, but the RCMP allege the man was impaired.
“What’s unnerving and disturbing is that the male was heading eastbound, which is towards Cape Breton. When questioned by police he thought he was driving westbound heading home to New Brunswick. So again, that speaks to the level of impairment and their ability to operate a vehicle,” said RCMP Cpl. Dal Hutchinson.
READ: New Brunswick man charged with impaired driving following accident near Antigonish, N.S.
Around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, a concerned citizen called police to report that a vehicle was driving recklessly along Highway 103 near Upper Tantallon, N.S.
RCMP arrested a 26-year-old woman from Black Point, who they say was swerving at fluctuating speeds and driving towards oncoming traffic. According to police, breath samples taken from the woman determined she was more than three times the legal limit to drive.
“We’re very fortunate that no lives were lost in this situation,” said Hutchinson. “When you’re operating a motor vehicle and you’re over three times the legal limit, that’s scary.”
READ MORE: Impaired driver arrested along Nova Scotia’s Highway 103: RCMP
Despite increased awareness over the last three decades, MADD says people continue to drive impaired.
“It’s so frustrating because there’s so much awareness out there and we’ve done such a great job with education but we just keep on needing to get that message out there about the dangers of impaired driving,” said Aldridge.
RCMP say they see an increased number of impaired drivers this time of year and are encouraging people to think about their actions and the possible consequences before deciding to drive impaired.
“Far too often, we’re responding to motor vehicle collisions and in a lot of cases involving fatalities where alcohol has been a contributing factor,” said Hutchinson.
“These collisions are preventable. If you’re going to go out and drink and you’re going to go out and have a good time, don’t get behind the wheel when you’re done partying or done socializing. It’s not worth it.”
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