8 impaired drivers involved in crashes during holiday checkstop program, Winnipeg police say

Four impaired drivers were found intoxicated to the point of being unconscious behind the wheel during the four-week-long annual holiday checkstop program, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Tuesday.

Impaired driving is a contributing factor in nearly one-third of all traffic fatalities in Manitoba, police said. Each year, Winnipeg Police Service runs a checkstop program to discourage drinking and driving during the winter holiday season.

Eight impaired drivers were involved in crashes during the course of the program, which found a total of 124 impaired driver incidents, police said in the news release Tuesday.

The highest blood alcohol concentration was .27, which is more than three times the statutory limit of .08 (or 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood).

Police stopped a total of 3,933 vehicles, charged 18 people with impaired driving, issued 106 immediate roadside driving bans and handed out 93 traffic tickets.

The average age of impaired drivers was 34, police said; the youngest was 16 and the oldest 49.

Twelve people failed drug screening tests. One of them tested positive for cocaine and the remaining 11 tested positive for cannabis, police said.

The numbers for the final week of the program were also released.

Police reported fewer incidents of impaired driving during Week 4 of the program than during Week 3.

During Week 4, police stopped 912 vehicles, with 30 impaired driving incidents, they said. Police charged six individuals with impaired driving and issued 20 immediate roadside driving bans, while handing out 21 traffic tickets.

Four people failed drug screening tests, which were positive for cannabis.

"Our message is simple — if you're under the influence of alcohol or drugs, don't drive," police said in the news release.