REGINA — Police were heavily focused on impaired driving enforcement over the holiday season and those efforts resulted in 545 impaired driving offences reported for December, according to SGI.
Last month law enforcement across Saskatchewan held dozens of checkstops, along with other less-visible forms of enforcement. As a result, there were 183 Criminal Code impaired driving offences and 362 administrative for exceeding provincial limits.
The majority of administrative suspensions (241) were related to drugs. The other 121 were due to alcohol. The prevalence of drug-related suspensions coincides with police having more widespread access to roadside oral fluid testers that can determine whether a driver has been using cannabis and other drugs.
Administrative suspensions are issued when someone is caught driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) between .04 to .08 and/or they have drugs in their system. Whether it’s for alcohol or drugs, the consequences are the same: a licence suspension (starting at three days; longer if it’s a repeat offence or a new driver), vehicle impoundment, demerits and the requirement to take a weekend impaired driver education course.
The penalties for Criminal Code impaired driving offences are even stricter, with fines and potential imprisonment, longer-term driving suspensions and vehicle impoundments, Ignition Interlock requirements, and significant financial penalties under the Safe Driver Recognition program.
Other results from the December Traffic Safety Spotlight:
- 3,803 tickets for speeding and aggressive driving offences;
- 234 tickets for people not wearing a seatbelt, or not using the proper car seat or booster; and
- 486 tickets for distracted driving, including 412 for using a cellphone.
‘Be alert’
“Be alert. Always give driving your full attention at intersections and everywhere else on the road.”
That’s the message from SGI’s upcoming awareness campaign debuting this coming weekend. Starting this Sunday, you’ll see and hear the campaign on TV, radio, print, billboards, online and on social media platforms. However, if you’d like a sneak peek before it officially debuts, you can check it out here.
Nearly half of all collisions happen in intersections, reports SGI. With a lot going on in multiple directions, drivers must pay particular attention and be ready to react quickly to whatever arises.
Throughout January and February, SGI is focusing on helping drivers avoid collisions (along with the resulting costs, and potential consequences) by talking about some of the most common causes of vehicle crashes:
- Driver distraction and inattention
- Failure to yield
- Excessive speed
- Following too closely
- Not adjusting to road conditions
Most collisions can be avoided through safe driving and good choices, SGI says. Stay focused on the road, leave others enough room and respect speed limits. If weather, road and/or traffic conditions aren’t ideal, increase your following distance and reduce your speed.
Follow SGI on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Threads for more safe driving tips.
