Alberta RCMP nabbed 165 drunk drivers and a speeder going 75 km/h over the limit in a May long weekend traffic blitz.
The impaired drivers were caught between May 21-23 across the province. Over that span, 2,804 safety violation tickets were handed out, including 1,280 speeding, 74 distracted driving and 66 seatbelt tickets.
Among the speeders caught was a driver in the Rocky Mountain House area, who was clocked going 175 km/h in a 100 km/h zone.
“The driver failed a mandatory alcohol screening and was found to be driving without a licence,” said RCMP in a news release. “Further investigation showed that the individual was wanted on 14 Criminal Code warrants.”
The driver was arrested and is awaiting a court date.
RCMP in traffic units from Rocky Mountain House, Stettler and Blackfalds joined forces on a check stop in the Nordegg area. Police stopped 227 drivers and one was removed from behind the wheel under the province’s Immediate Roadside Sanction program, which involves a licence suspension up to 30 days and fines up to $2,000.
Other check stops were set up in Bighorn, Kananaskis, Rocky View County and Cochrane. About 600 vehicles were stopped and 14 impaired drivers were taken off the road. Another driver was caught with a suspended licence and a domestic violence suspect was identified and arrested.
Last week was a deadly one for Alberta motorists. Between May 16-23, six people were killed in five collisions.
“Three of these collisions were confirmed to involve impairment,” said Alberta RCMP Traffic Services Insp. Chris Romanchych in a news release. “While we continue to enforce traffic laws and maintain order on our provincial roadways, we remind the public that traffic safety is the responsibility of everyone. We urge road users to practise safe driving behaviours every time they get behind the wheel.”