More than 100 commercial vehicle drivers were checked for signs of alcohol impairment this week in surprise mandatory testing at the Confederation Bridge that links Prince Edward Island and the mainland.
Cpl. Gavin Moore, media relations officer for the RCMP on P.E.I., said this was the first time the force had conducted an operation of this size and scale for commercial vehicles at the bridge.
“Every commercial vehicle that traveled through that area was stopped and every driver had to provide a breath sample,” Moore said.
“We recognize that commercial vehicles being the size [and] weight that they are, it does pose an additional danger to the public should someone get behind the wheel and not be sober.”
Moore said conducting sobriety screenings is a way to discourage drivers from driving when impaired by alcohol or drugs, noting that impaired driving is one of the three leading causes of fatal crashes in P.E.I.
“Anybody who may be going to make the poor choice of impaired driving… their perceptions of being caught plays a major factor in their decision-making,” he said.
The primary purpose of the screening was to test for sobriety, Moore said, but police were checking for other potential offences as well. A handful of offences under the Highway Traffic Act were detected, he said.
After the operation was complete, officers went on to conduct non-mandatory testing nearby and arrested two drivers under the influence of cannabis in the Borden-Carleton area.
Moore said community members should not hesitate to call 911 or the police if they suspect someone impaired is driving or about to drive.
