Operation Impact is a National traffic safety initiative that is run every year. The focus of Operation Impact is to ensure the safety of our roadways by conducting impaired driving traffic enforcement. This year, Operation Impact was held on the weekend of October 6th to October 9th. RCMP officers around the territory participated in this initiative and engaged in the following:
- 631 vehicles and drivers were checked through traffic stops and check points;
- 56 check points were established throughout the territory for short periods, over the weekend;
- 9 impaired drivers were located behind the wheel and face charges of impaired driving;
- Additionally, the RCMP also took the following enforcement action:
- Issued 7 roadside suspensions for alcohol consumption
- Issued 2 roadside suspensions for drug use
- Issued 30 tickets for seatbelt infractions – seatbelts save lives!
- Issued 15 other tickets under the Motor Vehicle Act
Impaired driving continues to be a significant issue in the Northwest Territories which consistently has some of the highest rates of impaired driving in Canada. MADD Canada estimates that on average, everyday 4 Canadians are killed and 175 are injured in impaired driving related collisions. Anyone who suspects a driver is impaired is asked to call 911.