Law enforcement across the province are taking part in a traffic safety blitz targeting impaired driving this week.
Operation Overdrive, taking place May 8 and 9 province-wide, will see police going into overdrive to apprehend drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol, according to an SGI press release.
As the number one contributing factor to fatal collisions, impaired driving is a serious traffic safety issue in Saskatchewan, SGI says.
"With so many options available to get home safely, there's simply no excuse to risk killing yourself or another innocent road user by driving impaired,' said Andrew Cartmell, president and CEO of SGI. "Plan a safe ride home. Choose a designated driver, call a designated driving service, call a cab, take the bus or use SGI's free Safe Ride App."
Last year in Saskatchewan, impaired driving contributed tonearly 1,300 collisions, resulting in59 deaths andmore than 700 injuries, SGI states.
"People who drink and drive aren't just choosing for themselves; their decisions and actions can take someone else's life or change it forever," said Chief Troy Hagen, president of the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police. "With our partners, we will continue diligent enforcement of the laws, but true progress comes with changing attitude toward drinking and driving and making this recklessness forever unacceptable."
During the Operation Overdrive blitz last May, law enforcement issued more than 1,300 tickets, including 50 impaired driving charges.
Now that spring is finally here, SGI reminds motorists there will be more vehicles on the road, including bicycles, motorcycles and campers, so please take extra care, drive safely and never drink and drive.
