Increased police presence for long weekend in Lake Cowichan

The Lake Cowichan RCMP will have an increased presence throughout the weekend as tourists and festival goers come into town for festivities.

During the long weekend, you can expect to see police presence on both land and water to ensure anyone attending the area not only abide by laws but also to be respectful towards the community while using public parks and beaches. For this reason, Lake Cowichan RCMP would like to remind the public to plan their weekend accordingly following the following tips:

Impaired driving

Impaired driving is one of the leading causes of death in Canada. Approximately 1 in 3 collisions involve alcohol and 1 in 10 drivers after 10 P.M. have consumed alcohol. According to statistics from Insurance Corporation of BC, most alcohol-related crashes do not occur during the winter months (December, January, February). The greatest numbers of alcohol-related crashes occur during the summer months (June, July, August), contrary to popular opinion.

One of the myths is that drivers believe they drive better after having a few drinks. Having a few drinks will affect a person’s judgement and reaction negatively. Other popular myths are I can have 1 drink per hour, I can drink a cup of coffee to sober up, I can take a cold shower to sober up, and I can eat something and I won’t be as impaired. All of these myths are false. The concentration of alcohol in a person will only be gradually eliminated with the passage of time. Don’t drink at all if you are planning to drive.

A wide range of drugs, including illicit, prescription and some over-the-counter drugs can impair one’s ability to drive a vehicle. Canadian statistics from 2014 have shown that among fatally injured drivers tested, as many as 42% tested positive for some type of drug. Among those who tested positive for drugs, 44% tested positive for cannabis (Traffic Injury Research Foundation).

Know the law before drinking alcohol on boats

With hot weather, people are heading to local lakes and rivers with their watercraft to try to beat the heat. In many cases, they take along alcoholic beverages.

While most people are aware that it is illegal to be impaired and operate a boat, many do not know that it is also illegal to consume or possess alcohol in an open container on private boats in British Columbia unless certain criteria are met.

Water safety

Don’t push your limits when playing in water

Many drowning instances we have seen over the years have been as a result of fatigue and being too far from shore.

• If you cannot swim, stay out of the water and seek the shade instead.
• Wear a personal flotation device. This is always a good idea for kids and adults alike. We have many rivers in our area that have been underestimated, resulting in tragic outcomes.
• Tubers: be sure to wear a life jacket and have a whistle.
• Do not put your feet in fast moving water that is deeper than the length of your arm. If a foot becomes entrapped by rocky bottom in deep water, the current will eventually push the swimmer over face first into the water.
• Remember alcohol and water don't mix.
• Watch your speed. Don't race to the lake, and don’t race on the lake. Speed is a major contributor to incidents on the roadways and on the water. Slow down.