Abbotsford police urging safety after 11 impaired drivers stopped in one night
Posted November 11, 2024 7:00 am.
Eleven impaired drivers were taken off Abbotsford roads in a four-hour period Friday night, prompting a warning from police.
Abbotsford Police Department (AbbyPD) Sgt. Paul Walker says Friday night marks an alarming rise in the city.
“We’re starting to see more and more of this. It’s concerning, considering that ride hailing is a big part of our province now it’s very easy to get a safe ride home,” Walker explained.
He says the 11 impaired drivers that AbbyPD did stop are only a representation of how many are on the road.
“There’s a big area that we police out here. I’m sure we’re not catching a lot of them, and that’s concerning,” said Walker.
“Long weekends definitely do have some impact with drinking at different social gatherings. But overall, whether it’s a long weekend or not, we’re still seeing people making extremely poor choices, and those choices are putting lives at risk out on our roads.
Along with ride-hailing and ride-sharing options, Walker says the AbbyPD has alternatives for people thinking of driving while impaired.
Opertion Red Nose, named after the famous reindeer, provides rides to drivers who feel unfit to drive. Walker says with a number of office parties and social gatherings taking place, drivers need to make smart choices and get a safe ride home.
