**** RCMP Media Release

Halifax Regional Police release impaired driving statistics for July and August

Halifax Regional Police charged 32 drivers with impaired related offences during the month of July and 33 drivers with impaired related offences during the month of August.

Of the 31 drivers in July 24 were charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle by alcohol, three were charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle by a drug and five were issued driving suspensions for operating a motor vehicle while having consumed alcohol. Of the drivers who provided breath samples, officers were able to detect a wide range of blood alcohol concentrations (60 to 310mg %) with 13 of the drivers being at least twice the legal limit. Four of the drivers refused to provide a breath sample and were charged with the offence of refusal.

Of the 33 drivers in August 25 were charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle by alcohol, two were charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle by a drug and six were issued driving suspensions for operating a motor vehicle while having consumed alcohol. Of the drivers who provided breath samples, officers were able to detect a wide range of blood alcohol concentrations (80 to 310mg %) with seven of the drivers being at least twice the legal limit.​ Eleven of the drivers refused to provide a breath sample and were charged with the offence of refusal.

Police received 19 calls throughout the month of July and 16 calls throughout the month of August from citizens who suspected impaired drivers. We thank citizens for calling in suspected impaired drivers and encourage citizens to call 911 immediately if you suspect someone is driving impaired.

Here are some signs of an impaired driver:

• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Driving unreasonably fast, slow or at an inconsistent speed
• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Drifting in and out of lanes
• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Tailgating and changing lanes frequently
• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Making exceptionally wide turns
• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Changing lanes or passing without sufficient clearance
• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Overshooting or stopping well before stop signs or stop lights
• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Disregarding signals and lights
• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Approaching signals or leaving intersections too quickly or slowly
• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Driving without headlights, failing to lower high beams or leaving turn signals on
• ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Driving with windows open in cold or inclement weather

If you see a potential impaired driver, call 911, give them your location along with a description of the vehicle, including the license plate number, colour, make and model, the direction of travel for the vehicle and a description of the driver.