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ICBC: Summer CounterAttack reminds drivers to plan ahead

June 29, 2011 - The Province, police and ICBC kicked off the summer CounterAttack campaign today with a reminder to plan ahead and choose a designated driver to get home safely.

"The summer CounterAttack campaign is designed to help remind people to take personal responsibility and think before they drink," said Solicitor General Shirley Bond. "Far too many lives are lost needlessly and families impacted forever as a result of impaired driving incidents in our province. Today we are urging everyone to make smart, safe choices and help us reduce injury and death on B.C. highways."

"Police will be out in full force looking for impaired drivers at roadchecks across the province this summer," said Chief Constable Jamie Graham, Traffic Committee Chair of British Columbia Association of Chiefs of Police (BCACP). "We see the consequences of impaired driving far too often. That’s why when you are out celebrating this summer we’ll be there too, doing our part to keep B.C. roads safe."

"We want everyone to enjoy their summer – so make the right choice and plan ahead to get home safe," said Fiona Temple, ICBC’s director of road safety. "Choose your designated driver before you head out. And if you have agreed to be a designated driver, be true to your commitment – your friends and family are counting on you."

ICBC and its road safety partners invest in combined enforcement and public awareness during the CounterAttack campaign as an effective way to change driver behaviour, save lives and prevent injuries. On average, 126 lives are lost each year on B.C. roads in crashes involving impaired driving.

Safety tips for reducing impaired driving:

• After a couple isn’t the time to choose a designated driver.
• If you're going to drink, make the smart choice: choose a designated driver before going out and plan to get home safe.
• Set an example; refuse to ride with drivers who may be impaired. Your smart driving decisions can have a significant influence on others.
• A true designated driver is the person who chooses not to drink so that they can drive others home safely.
• If you see an impaired driver, call 911 and report it to your local police.
• Learn about the effects of alcohol. It affects your judgment, reaction time and coordination, your ability to steer, track moving objects, brake, and control your speed and lane position.
• No amount of coffee, cold showers or fresh air will make you sober. The only cure is time.

For more information about the summer CounterAttack campaign, visit icbc.com.

About ICBC

ICBC serves 3.2 million customers in the province of British Columbia, Canada. ICBC licenses and insures drivers and vehicles across the province through its service centres, plus a network of more than 900 independent brokers and government agent offices. Claims customers are served through local offices and an award-winning Dial-a-Claim call centre. ICBC's road safety investments help create safer roads, lead to fewer crashes, and help keep rates stable. To find out more, visit icbc.com.