Enjoy the long weekend, but stay safe on the roads and don’t drink and drive, say Okotoks RCMP.
“Not only don’t drink and drive, but also don’t be impaired by other drugs as well,” said Okotoks RCMP Sgt. Sukh Randhawa.
Police officers will be out in full-force watching highways this weekend. Police are expecting the roads to be busy and they encourage drivers to be safe and respectful.
“Be cognitive of the fact there’s going to be a lot of traffic on the highways, increased traffic can cause sometimes a lot of stress, but be patient,” said Randhawa. “Give yourself enough room and be aware of your surroundings.”
People are reminded to wear seatbelts, obey speed limits, plan ahead, be patient and not be distracted behind the wheel.
“Our suggestion would be to leave the phone alone,” said Randhawa.
He also says people should be well rested before getting behind the wheel and not drive while overtired.
The notice comes as RCMP say they made several arrests for impaired driving during random traffic stops in Okotoks on July 22-24, including two who were nearly three times the legal limit.
One, a 25-year-old male, the other a 55-year-old woman, were both charged with impaired driving. Both provided alcohol blood alcohol samples with blood alcohol levels of .22, almost three times the legal limit of eight per cent.
In addition, two adult males were given 72-hour licence suspensions and one adult male had his licence suspended for 30 days under the Province’s zero tolerance program for novice drivers.
RCMP encourage people hosting gatherings at their homes to offer non-alcoholic alternatives or ensure people who have been drinking have a safe way to get home.
