Winter driving campaign sees mixed success in BC

British Columbia’s 2025 Winter Impaired Driving Campaign resulted in fewer impaired drivers being taken off BC’s highways than last year’s initiative but results varied greatly throughout the province.

Photo of a checkstop from the BC Highway Patrol media release

BC Highway Patrol reported that 240 drivers were removed from BC roadways in December 2025 for alcohol and drug related driving prohibitions according to a media release, a decrease from the 267 prohibitions served during December of 2024. While impaired driving numbers dropped in Central BC, Northern BC saw an increase.

“We shouldn’t read too much into number changes from 2024, because different weather conditions and staffing from year-to-year are major factors,” says Inspector Adam Tallboy with BC Highway Patrol. “We are encouraged by some of the lower impaired numbers in Central BC, but the increase in northern BC is concerning. Overall, BC drivers still need to do a better job of driving sober.”

Results varied significantly by region, as Northern BC recorded 64 prohibitions, up 12 from last year, and Central BC saw one of the largest improvements province-wide, with 50 prohibitions, down 31 from 2024. Elsewhere, Vancouver Island remained unchanged at 53 prohibitions, while the Kootenay region recorded 27, a decrease of nine. The South Coast saw 13 prohibitions, and Special Traffic Operations issued 33 prohibitions, an increase of six. While every detachment works to keep their communities safe, these numbers reflect only BC Highway Patrol and don’t include RCMP or municipal police according to the release.

Police around the province continue to utilize Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS) to help remove impaired drivers from the road.

“A mandatory impaired driving breath demand can be made for any motorist,” says Inspector Tallboy. “Driving on BC highways is a privilege that needs to be treated with the respect it deserves. People who are impaired and endanger other road-users will be removed from the highways.”

This province-wide annual effort was conceived by the BC Association of Chiefs of Police to support National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, with police across BC using extra check stops, enforcement techniques, and patrols to crack down on impaired driving.