by Morinville News Staff
Traffic fatalities, injuries and damage to property were down between Dec. 23, 2015 and Jan. 3, 2016 compared to the same holiday period of 2014.
Provincial holiday traffic statistics released by the RCMP Jan. 5 show there was one traffic fatality and 95 motor vehicle-related injuries during the period as well as 1204 instances of damaged property.
The same period in 2014 resulted in five fatalities, 135 injuries, and 1570 instances of damaged property.
There were 112 Impaired charges and 58 roadside suspensions handed out this past year, a number down significantly from the 155 impaired charges and 101 roadside suspensions given out during the 2014 holiday period. However, this year saw one case of impaired operation causing death and one case of impaired operation causing bodily injury. The same period in 2014 saw seven impaired operation injuries but zero deaths.
Police report that thefts from vehicles were down but stolen vehicles were up this past holiday. Three-hundred-and-forty cars were reported stolen or taken without permission, and police received 206 reports of thefts from vehicles. The 2014 period saw 285 cars reported stolen and 206 reports of thefts from vehicles.