For the December Traffic Safety Spotlight on impaired driving, first responders across Saskatchewan shared their holiday wishes that everyone would choose to drive sober and keep our roads safe. Not everyone heeded those wishes.
Police reported 369 impaired driving offences, including 288 Criminal Code charges, for the month of December.
Results throughout 2020 showed that impaired driving didn’t stop because of the pandemic, and police continued their strong focus all year on catching people who made that unfortunate choice. Strong enforcement is one of the reasons Saskatchewan has made real progress in changing the culture of impaired driving, and reducing fatalities and injuries. Those who still choose to drive impaired are more likely than ever to be caught – and face licence suspensions, vehicle impoundments, and potential fines and/or jail time imposed by the courts.
But the biggest concern related to impaired driving is the risk of death or serious injury. Impaired driving remains the leading cause of fatal collisions on Saskatchewan roads. That’s why in 2021, SGI and law enforcement will focus on impaired driving again in February, May, September, and December.
Other results from the December Traffic Safety Spotlight showed lower-than-average numbers for the other offences in the Big Four categories:
414 distracted driving tickets (including 360 for cellphone use);
3,453 tickets for aggressive driving and speeding; and
207 tickets for seatbelts and child restraint being used incorrectly or not at all.
The January Traffic Safety Spotlight continues to focus on intersection safety and rail safety. We kicked off the month with some helpful videos on how to navigate different intersections. #IntersectionSafety #STOPTrackTragedies
