Surrey, BC – The Surrey Police Service (SPS) has launched a new Impaired Driving Unit (IDU) to combat impaired driving and enhance road safety in the city. This specialized unit will focus on enforcement, prevention, and education to reduce the risks posed by drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Initially staffed with five officers, the unit will expand to seven by the end of 2025. Each officer is a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), trained to assess impairment caused by drugs and alcohol, and a Breath Test Analysis (BTA) operator, allowing them to gather evidence for criminal impaired driving investigations.
The IDU will not only assist Frontline officers with complex impaired driving cases but will also proactively patrol high-risk areas, with a focus on evening and weekend enforcement when impaired driving incidents are most common.
“Road safety is an integral part of public safety. Surrey Police Service launched the Impaired Driving Unit to target offenders, who continue to create risk for other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians by driving under the influence,” said Inspector Earl Andersen, Officer in Charge of SPS’s Road Safety Section. “There have been too many lives lost and too many families devastated by impaired driving. This new dedicated unit will allow us to focus on enforcement year-round and work to reduce these preventable tragedies in Surrey.”
The launch of the Impaired Driving Unit is part of SPS’s comprehensive traffic and road safety strategy, which includes proactive enforcement, public education, and collision investigations. SPS will also continue to collaborate with law enforcement and community partners to ensure impaired drivers and their vehicles are swiftly removed from Surrey’s roads.
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