Operation Christmas Launched

Law enforcement agencies across Nova Scotia are targeting impaired drivers in Operation Christmas, the annual campaign to reduce impaired driving during the holiday season.

Checkpoints were set up today, Nov. 30, to launch the provincewide program. Vehicles will be stopped for enforcement and to remind drivers to plan ahead to get home safely.

"Because of Operation Christmas sobriety checkpoints, impaired drivers are being stopped and taken off the road," said Justice Minister Murray Scott. "Operation Christmas is one of several measures in place to combat impaired driving in our province."

Operation Christmas is a joint effort by government, police agencies, the Canadian Forces and the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) to improve highway safety in Nova Scotia.

"During Operation Christmas, Halifax Regional Police and our policing partners will watch Nova Scotia's streets and highways and conduct countless checkpoints to address impaired driving by both alcohol and drugs," said Halifax Regional Police Deputy Chief Chris McNeil. "We have made great strides in addressing impaired driving, but we must remain relentless as the fight is far from over."

"Our members will be out at checkstops this holiday season reminding people about the dangers of drinking and driving," said Nova Scotia RCMP Chief Superintendent Tom Bennett. "This initiative is a great opportunity to speak personally with members of the community and, obviously, much more enjoyable than what we face at the scene of an impaired-driving fatality."

"Military police from CFB Halifax are proud to support this important community initiative," said Lt.-Cmdr. Larry Murphy, Naval Provost Marshal (Atlantic). "Working with government, police and other partners, we are committed to preventing impaired driving."

As part of Operation Christmas, the NSLC will donate $1 to MADD Canada, to a limit of $30,000, for every visit to the website www.lotsofways.com/MADD. The site supports the NSLC's innovative social responsibility holiday campaign, which includes television, print, washroom and bus ads; billboards; an interactive website; and advertising in NSLC stores. The campaign message is: there are lots of ways to get home safely, all you need is one.

"Promoting intelligent consumption of alcohol is a year-round priority for the NSLC," said Bret Mitchell, NSLC president and CEO. "Operation Christmas is a co-operative effort that illustrates a powerful partnership working together to keep our roads safe during the holiday season.

Susan MacAskill, MADD Canada chapter services manager, Atlantic region, said Operation Christmas will raise awareness to the dangers of drinking and drug-related driving.

"No family wants to have an empty place at the dinner table this holiday season," said Ms. MacAskill.

Impaired driving is one of the leading factors in fatal and serious collisions in Nova Scotia. Over the first 11 months of 2006, there were 22 fatalities in Nova Scotia in which impaired driving was a factor.