More than 1/3 of fatal crashes in N.B. involve impaired driving

More than a third of the fatal traffic crashes this year on roads patrolled by the New Brunswick RCMP have involved impaired driving.

The force says 20 of the 55 fatal crashes involved drugs or alcohol. 

Those 55 crashes killed 60 people.

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As recently as the weekend of Nov. 12, Moncton's Codiac Regional RCMP arrested seven people for impaired driving.

All of those drivers were arrested after checkstops, and RCMP will be out in full force Saturday with a similar initiative, but this time it will be province-wide.

As part of National Safe Driving Week from Dec. 1 to 7, the provincial RCMP are participating in National Impaired Driving Enforcement Day.

Checking documents, too

"Every driver can make the choice not to drive while impaired," Staff Sgt. Gilles Blinn said in a statement. "National Impaired Enforcement Day is an opportunity for police to interact with drivers during checkstops and remind them that driving while impaired can result in a crash that seriously injures or kills someone, including them."

Officers will be checking for impaired drivers and ensuring vehicle registration, safety inspection and insurance are up to date.

Police recommend drivers who have had too much to drink make use of public transit, a designated driver or Operation Red Nose.