Police: arrests for impaired driving hit three-year high
Police reported a “troubling” rise in arrests for impaired driving with the release of 2023’s fourth-quarter figures for traffic enforcement.
The offence was the highest seen by police over the past three years, according to data collected as part of the Operation Vega programme.
There were 263 impaired-driving arrests in 2023, compared with 229 in 2022 and 170 in 2021.
The figure included impairment through drug use as well as alcohol.
Anthony Santucci, the executive director of anti-drink-driving group Cada, said residents continued not to take impaired driving seriously.
“In England, it’s completely not acceptable to drink and drive,” he said. “In Bermuda, we are not at that point.
“Unfortunately it’s still a part of our culture, and we need to do something significant to change that culture. You can’t keep doing the same thing.”
Mr Santucci welcomed the road statistics as “police doing their job”.
He added: “Any time we get people in that condition off the street is a good thing.”
Cada has linked 75 per cent of deaths on the roads to alcohol and drugs, often in combination.
Mr Santucci said the figures merited a deeper analysis, including cross tabulation.
He highlighted: “Policy decisions are not made using statements. Where were they arrested and at what time?
“When we want to develop good policy that makes sense, we need to be sure we have cross tabulation.”
Mr Santucci said Cada’s motto for this month, when it came to alcohol and driving, was “zero keeps you safe”.
He added that there was no excuse for driving while impaired because of a lack of transportation.
Mr Santucci insisted: “We cannot create excuses for people drinking and driving.”
Acting Superintendent Robert Cardwell, of the Bermuda Police Service tactical support division, said in the wake of the latest figures: “We must move away from a culture where impaired driving is acceptable.
“It must be heavily frowned upon and be of concern to us all in order that the necessary change in thinking can be achieved.”
Mr Cardwell underscored that driving while impaired through drug use was an offence just as driving while under the influence of alcohol.
He said: “Driving while under the influence of drugs, whether illegal or prescribed, means you are driving whilst impaired.
“The BPS will this year act to significantly address the issue of drug-impaired driving.”
Speeding continued to rank highly among traffic offences reported, with 171 cases last month.
Mr Cardwell added that police were concerned by the number of people driving vehicles that were uninsured, unlicensed or both, as well as motorists on the roads without a valid driving licence.
There were 64 drivers found with unlicensed vehicles in December, 54 without third party insurance and 59 with no driver’s licence.
Mr Cardwell said: “We continue to encourage motorists to comply with traffic regulations and drive responsibly.
“Don’t wait until you’re somehow impacted by impaired driving before you take action against it — and please, slow down.
“We urge you to work with us and do your part to make our roads safer for all residents and visitors.”
• For the full breakdown of the Operation Vega figures, see Related Media
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