Calgary Police Conduct Traffic Stops for Drunk Drivers This Holiday Season

Calgary Police Conduct Traffic Stops for Drunk Drivers This Holiday Season


Calgary police marked the start of the holiday season with a massive  traffic stop in the city's southwest  on Saturday.
It began around 8:00 PM at Stoney Trail and Fishcreek  Boulevard. New traffic stops  have been added to mark National Impaired Driving  Day.

Throughout the month of December, Calgary  Police will be working with  the RCMP, MADD  Calgary and Alberta  Sheriffs to  deliver important  messages about the  dangers of driving  while intoxicated or  under the influence of drugs.
Calgary Police Chief Mark Neufeld told CityNews  that most fatal crashes  are preventable and  urged Calgarians to plan safe  trips.
He says speed,  impairment and  distraction are the three  main issues that  lead to crashes in  Calgary.
This year, there have been  about 1,700 total  drunk driving charges, with people failing  a drink or drug test making up the  majority (more than 1,200). But it has dropped since 2023,  when more than 1,900 charges  were filed.

When it comes to finding safe  transportation, police say having a designated driver, taking public  transportation, renting a taxi or staying the night are all  possible options.
CPS Traffic Section Sergeant Brad Norman says  motorists can expect an increase in  drunk driving stops throughout the month and  drunk driving  will not  be tolerated on Calgary  roads.
"We encourage Calgarians to safely enjoy  holidays, parties and events  in the  coming weeks and encourage everyone to plan ahead for these types of  trips, with the goal of  returning home  safely by the end of the  evening ", he said.