While some may find it amusing that a driving student with an instructor was caught driving impaired in Coquitlam, the potential risk of the incident is underscored by a project that Ridge Meadows RCMP undertook that reveals that it's no laughing matter.  

Coquitlam RCMP stated today (February 13) that at 1:30 p.m. on February 2, an officer stopped a car that ran a stop sign in Coquitlam.

The 44-year-old male driver from Coquitlam failed a roadside sobriety test. What’s more, the man turned out to be a driving student who was taking a driving lesson at the time.

The driver had his learner’s license suspended for 90 days and received a ticket for failing to stop at the sign.

Meanwhile, the driving instructor’s car was impounded for 30 days.

Both the driver and the driving school could face a review from ICBC.  

Meanwhile, Ridge Meadows RCMP revealed the results of an initiative targeting impaired drivers yesterday (February 12).

From May 2017 to April 2018, officers investigated seven fatal motor vehicle collisions involving alcohol or drug impairment.

Consequently, Ridge Meadows RCMP launched Project Domino Effect, which ran from May 2018 to March 2019, in an effort to prevent impaired driving due to alcohol or drugs.

During the 11 months of the project, officers reduced impaired fatal collisions down to two incidents.

After the project concluded, there have been zero fatal vehicle incidents related to impaired driving from March 2019 to this month (February 2020).

Ridge Meadows RCMP stated that out of the nine fatal investigations, four resulted in criminal charges being approved by Crown Council.