Special RCMP unit made 52 impaired driving arrests in 2022 on P.E.I. — most for drugs

RCMP on Prince Edward Island say a specialized unit made 52 impaired driving arrests last year. According to a news release, 43 of those drivers were impaired by drugs, eight were impaired by alcohol, and one was charged for failure to provide a sample.

"I think it speaks to having a dedicated unit that is focused on this and their efforts really do help to try and make safer roads for all Islanders," said Const. Gavin Moore, spokesperson for the provincial RCMP.

Moore is referring to the Provincial Priority Unit, or PPU, which was first created in 2020 to specifically target the issue of impaired driving on the Island.

"So this unit works in all corners of P.E.I. They also take care of patrols on boats in the summertime and are also an asset to be used in all kinds of other special events," he said.

"Certainly impaired driving, as all Islanders could attest, is a priority and something that we all want to see action taken on."

Within the past few years, access to drug-detecting tools and training has seen the proportion of drug-related charges rise, said Moore. This includes the drug screening device, drug recognition evaluator training and standard field sobriety testing training.

"Knowing that there are police out there on the roads with a specific skill set and a specific purpose certainly can reduce the number of impaired drivers," he said. "[I] would hope that it would make people understand that there is a very strong chance they will get caught if they make these risky decisions."

The success of the unit has led to its expansion for 2023. The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure said the budget for the PPU was increased by approximately $300,000 in 2023, which will grow the unit from two officers to four.

The PPU also partners with MADD Canada. Steve Sullivan, the Ottawa-based CEO of MADD Canada, said the number of drug-impaired driving charges is concerning.

"I think in this day and age when we've had so much education and public awareness around impaired driving, the risks, the consequences for those people who do choose to," he said. "It's always concerning when we see these kinds of numbers."

While Sullivan said many people are now aware of the risks of impaired driving due to alcohol, fewer people talk about the risks of driving after using cannabis.

"I can't tell you how many times I've spoken to people who said I'm a better driver when I'm high, which is just not true," he said. "We know that people who take cannabis and drive, their reactions are slower."

And those slower reactions can have effects that are just as detrimental as alcohol impairment.

"You're at risk for injuries to yourself or your passengers," Sullivan said. "And even if you're fortunate enough not to get into a crash, if you are stopped by the police you run the risk of getting your criminal record that could impact your job, your job in the future, your ability to travel outside of Canada, your insurance rate."