Drinking and driving has been laid to rest at Hatley Memorial Gardens in West Shore.

In the warm summer sun last week, people gathered at the cemetery to attend a graveside service for nothing but excuses.

One by one the mourners dropped common excuses like “It’s only a short drive,” “I’m more careful after a couple,” and “Leaving my car overnight is a hassle,” into the grave.

“It’s a problem that just isn’t going away. Drinking and driving is the number No. 1 cause of criminal death in Canada,” said Nicolas Jimenez, ICBC’s director of road safety.

The shovels of Jimenez, Colwood Mayor Jody Twa, and deputy Chief Const. Mike Chadwick and Staff Sgt. Andrew Isles, with the Integrated Road Safety Unit, covered the excuses with earth.

The funeral was the opening event to a month-long campaign to bring public awareness and enforcement to the drinking and driving issues in B.C.

The RCMP will be actively setting up more roadblocks to enforce this dangerous issue.

“After 10 p.m. one in 10 drivers is impaired by alcohol,” Isles said. “It’s our vision to have the safest roads in the world, by 2010.”

Hosting the event was important to Janice Arnold, manager of Hatley Memorial Gardens.

“ICBC approached us and we are honoured to be a part of it,” she said. “It is us that has to deal with the families in the end.”

On a daily basis, Chris Benesch, manager of Sands Funeral Chapel, is reminded of the tragedies that stem from drinking and driving. “This is where it ends and we see it first hand,” he said. “This is a place to come for a sobering reality check.”

Jimenez also warned the Driver Risk Premium being introduced by ICBC will affect anyone convicted of drinking and driving, by increasing their insurance costs.

news@goldstreamgazette.com