2025 Winter Impaired Driving Campaign finds less impaired drivers in Central BC, but more in the North

The 2025 Winter Impaired Driving Campaign saw an overall decrease in the number of impaired drivers stopped by BC Highway Patrol, but an increase in Northern BC.

A total of 240 drivers were removed from BC roads in December 2025 for everything from 24-hour drug prohibitions (8 total) to 90-day alcohol prohibitions (89 total). That’s down compared to 267 prohibitions issued in December 2024.

“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.”

In total, Central BC, which includes Merritt, Kelowna, Kamloops, and Clearwater, saw 50 prohibitions in December, down from 81 in December of 2024. Northern B.C., which includes communities north of 100 Mile House, had the biggest increase in violations with 64 recorded, twelve more than last December.

It should be noted that these numbers are exclusively for BC Highway Patrol units and do not include individual RCMP detachments or municipal police agencies.

Mandatory Alcohol Screening (MAS) continues to be a key tool for police efforts to 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.”

The annual Winter Impaired Driving Campaign is a province-wide effort conceived by the BC Association of Chiefs of Police. Police all over BC use extra check stops, patrols, and other enhanced enforcement techniques to support National Impaired Driving Prevention Month.