A gradual decline in the rate of impaired driving on Prince Edward Island is encouraging, but the fight against drunk driving is far from over, says Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Paula Biggar.
“During 2015 there were 238 people charged and convicted for impaired driving on Island roads – our lowest number on record, but we will continue to invest in education and enforcement to drive that number even lower,” said the minister.
“Impaired driving is a deliberate choice that some people make – the choice to get behind the wheel when drugs or alcohol have clouded a driver’s judgment. The people who do this are endangering every user of our roads – including themselves – and I will continue to work to stop them.”
The 238 impaired convictions this year marks a decrease from 241 in 2014, 297 in 2013 and 327 in 2012.
“Police agencies all across Prince Edward Island struggle with the issue of impaired driving. It's something that can easily be avoided if only people made the 'right' decision to not drink or use drugs and drive,” noted Commanding Officer of RCMP on P.E.I., Chief Superintendent Joanne Crampton. “To have to leave the scene of a motor vehicle collision to knock on someone's door and deliver the message that their loved one has been senselessly killed by an impaired driver is devastating. It would be great to never have to do it again.”
Sadly, not all indicators of highway safety improved last year.
There were 18 highway fatalities in 2015, compared to 5 in 2014, 15 in 2013 and 11 in 2012.
There were 379 injury collisions in 2015, compared to 390 in 2014, 465 in 2013 and 480 in 2012.
There were 1,544 total collisions in 2015, compared to 1,416 in 2014, 1,558 in 2013 and 1,638 in 2012.
“My responsibility as Minister is to keep us on the Road to Zero collisions, injuries or fatalities. As long as anyone is hurt on our roads, my department will continue to use education, enforcement, engineering and effective legislation to make travel safer on Prince Edward Island,” said Minister Biggar.