Impaired driving enforcement by B.C. Highway Patrol led to fewer drivers being removed from the road in the Kootenay region during the 2025 Winter Impaired Driving Campaign.
Officers issued 27 driving prohibitions across the region in December, down from 36 during the same month in 2024.
The Kootenay region, which encompasses communities such as Revelstoke, Nelson, Cranbrook, and Golden, was one of three areas in the province to experience a year-over-year decrease, alongside Central B.C. and the South Coast.
Insp. Adam Tallboy with B.C. Highway Patrol said the reduction is encouraging, though overall numbers remain too high.
“We are pleased to see fewer impaired drivers in some areas, including the Kootenays,” said Tallboy. “But impaired driving remains a threat to public safety, and the work is far from over.”
Across B.C., a total of 240 impaired driving prohibitions were issued by Highway Patrol officers in December 2025, compared with 267 in December 2024. That includes eight 24-hour drug prohibitions and 89 90-day alcohol-related suspensions.
The Kootenay region’s 25 per cent decline was among the steepest in the province. By contrast, Northern B.C. saw a notable increase, with 64 drivers taken off the road—up 12 from the year prior.
Tallboy said many factors can influence year-to-year changes in enforcement data, including staffing levels, weather conditions and road conditions.
Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS) remains a key part of police enforcement under the Criminal Code, allowing officers to demand a roadside breath test from any legally stopped driver.
“Driving on B.C. highways is a privilege that needs to be treated with the respect it deserves,” said Tallboy. “People who are impaired and endanger other road users will be removed from the highways.”
The Winter Impaired Driving Campaign is an annual initiative by the B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police. It coincides with National Impaired Driving Prevention Month and includes enhanced check stops, targeted patrols and other road safety measures provincewide.
