Impaired driving arrests doubled this holiday season compared to last: SQ

According to the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), 844 people were arrested across the province during the holiday season for driving under the influence compared to 360 the year before.

The SQ says all 18 police squads across Quebec intensified their efforts to catch drivers who had consumed alcohol, drugs, or both, during the holidays.

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In a statement, the SQ states that 3,500 checkpoints were put up between the end of November and the beginning of January.

Out of the 844 arrested, “roughly one hundred” drivers were impaired from drug use.

The statement didn’t shed any additional information as to why the numbers increased from year to year but said the number of checkpoints doubled since the 2018 season.

“Although the festive season has ended, police operations to prevent impaired driving will continue throughout the year,” concluded the Sûreté du Québec’s statement.