WITH the Canada Day long weekend approaching, ICBC and police are asking drivers to plan ahead to get home safely if their summer activities involve alcohol.

Every year on average, 65 people are killed in crashes involving impaired driving, with 40 per cent of those fatalities occurring during summer months alone.

Police will be ramping up enforcement beginning this weekend, looking for impaired drivers at CounterAttack roadchecks set up throughout the province.

Crashes involving impaired driving are preventable. No matter where you are this summer: if you plan to drink, don’t drive – arrange a designated driver, call a taxi or rideshare, or take transit, say ICBC and police.

ICBC has led impaired driving education campaigns and funded CounterAttack enhanced police enforcement for over 40 years. Learn more facts and tips in ICBC’s infographic.

MEANWHILE, The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure says drivers can expect delays on Coquihalla Highway 5 as portions of the highway are two lanes in each direction due to damage from the November 2021 atmospheric river and ongoing reconstruction work. The heaviest traffic volumes on the Coquihalla are anticipated to be on Sunday, July 3, from 1-8 p.m.

Drivers are encouraged to adjust travel plans to avoid peak times or consider using Highway 3 as an alternative route between the Interior and Lower Mainland. Drivers on other routes throughout the province should also expect higher-than-average traffic volumes and plan accordingly.

General tips for a safe trip include:

* allowing additional time to get to your destination due to more people on the roads;

* making sure your vehicle is up for the drive by having a full tank of gas or charged battery, checking engine oil, washer fluid, lights and tires, including the spare;

* packing food and water for passengers and pets;

* planning breaks at rest areas, which can be identified through: https://www.th.gov.bc.ca/restareas/;

* watching for motorcyclists and sharing the road with cyclists and other users;

* obeying all posted speed limits and driving with caution, especially during bad weather;

* leaving the phone alone while behind the wheel;

* ensuring all passengers use seatbelts at all times; and

* never driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

For the most up-to-date highway travel information, check @DriveBC on Twitter and: www.DriveBC.ca (http://www.drivebc.ca/)