'Tis the season to be sober.
Throughout the holiday season, law enforcement agencies around the province will be conducting their annual traffic safety blitz.
Sgt. Rob Laurent of the Yorkton municipal RCMP said that means increased enforcement and vigilance for drinking and driving, as well as other leading safety concerns such as cell phone use and speeding.
Last year in Saskatchewan during December there were 136 collisions in which alcohol was a factor resulting in 64 injuries and three deaths.
"It's no coincidence that drinking and driving is one of the leading causes of traffic fatalities throughout the province," said Staff Sgt. David Domoney of RCMP Traffic Safety Services. "Our officers will be on duty throughout the holiday season looking for impaired drivers across the province. Make the wise choice this year, plan ahead to have a safe ride home wherever your travels take you."
That can be challenging in Yorkton. Unlike in bigger cities where there are programs such as free public transit, designated driver services and ample taxi services, party-goers in Yorkton have fewer transportation choices.
Nevertheless, it is critical local celebrators make it work in some way according to SGI officials who are campaigning to remind people a blood alcohol content of even .04 will result in an automatic 24-hour licence suspension for a first offence in Saskatchewan.
And a BAC of .08 or higher is a criminal offence that will land you in court and maybe even in jail.
Worst of all, of course, is the prospect of killing or injuring somebody. Outside of criminal consequences, which can range up to manslaughter, the psychological trauma is something that can stick with drivers for the rest of their lives.
In recent years, employers have stepped up to discourage employees from inappropriately taking the wheel. For example, the City of Yorkton provides taxi chits to its workers, said Roy Lanaway, the city's communications manager.
Unfortunately, the City is not able to provide transportation to the general public the way, for example, the City of Saskatoon does on New Year's Eve.
"We really don't have the kind of transit system to support that," Lanaway said.
Still, while drinking and driving continues to be a problem, there are signs people are being more responsible.
Stan Shymanski, who runs several multi-company holiday parties for St. Mary's Catholic Cultural Centre, used to provide a drive home service from the centre, but has seen its use drop off in the last couple of years.
"I think people are using spouses or car-pooling," he said. "It's a pretty middle-aged crowd. They're pretty grown up about it."
