If you drink, don't drive

The holiday season is here, and so is ICBC’s drinking and driving counterattack.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the initiative, which started in 1977.

“People can expect to see officers from the Penticton South Okanagan Similkameen RCMP Detachment and South Okanagan Traffic Services officers setting up roadblocks sporadically throughout the days, morning, afternoon and evening,” said Cpl. Dan Moskaluk. “You’ll never know where we’ll be.”

On average, 78 people die each year in B.C. due to impaired driving.

“If you’re planning on going out during the holiday season and you’re partaking in drinking alcoholic beverages, well the time to plan is before you start drinking,” Moskaluk said.

“It's amazing, that one decision, as to how you are going to get home, the consequences it could have,” he said, adding B.C. has the toughest impaired driving laws in Canada.

Immediate roadside suspensions can result in the loss of a driver's license for 90 days, one-month vehicle impoundment, monetary fines totalling in excess of $4,000 and the installation of an ignition interlock in your vehicle.

A criminal DUI takes the penalties one step further, limiting travel outside of the country.

“I wish you all a merry Christmas and happy holidays, a safe one at that and that’s part of our wishlist certainly,” Moskaluk said.