Saskatchewan law enforcement agencies have extended the December traffic safety blitz for the holiday season.
For the entire month of December, officers will be increasing resources and paying extra attention to impaired driving across the province.
Alcohol remains the number one contributing factor to fatal collisions on Saskatchewan roads, according to an SGI press release.
"This is a busy season full of festivities and celebrations with co-workers, family and friends," said Andrew Cartmell, president and CEO of SGI.
"Even if you don't have a long way to go, it's important that your holiday plans include a safe ride home, so you, and everyone else on the road, make it home safely to enjoy the season."
Last year in Saskatchewan, there were 136 alcohol-involved collisions throughout the holiday season, resulting in 64 injuries and three fatalities. Overall in 2011, 52 people were killed and619 people were injured in a total of 1,284 alcohol-related collisions across the province.
"Our goal as a police service and as members of this community will always be for everyone to get home safely at the end of each night," said Chief Troy Hagan of the Regina Police Service, on behalf of the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police.
"Driving impaired reduces the chance that you will spend the holidays with your family."
SGI and law enforcement partners remind motorists that while a .08 BAC is a Criminal Code offence, a BAC of .04 also has consequences, including: a 24-hour roadside suspension for a first offence; a 15-day suspension and the requirement to complete a driving without impairment (DWI) course for a second offence; and a 90-day suspension for a third offence, with the requirement to take addiction screening and education prior to regaining your licence.
"It's no coincidence that drinking and driving is one of the leading causes of traffic fatalities throughout the Province of Saskatchewan," said Staff Sgt. David Domoney, 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."
During last December's two-day Operation Overdrive blitz, law enforcement checked more than 4,200 vehicles and issued a total of 241 tickets.
