More than 300 impaired drivers were stopped by police during December’s province-wide traffic safety spotlight on impaired driving.
In total, there were 308 offences related to alcohol or drug use throughout the month,
Including eight low blood alcohol content (BAC) offences (drivers with a BAC ranging from 04 to .08) and 300 Criminal Code charges such as high BAC (exceeding .08), impaired driving or refusing a breath test
Law enforcement also issued 3,124 tickets for speeding/aggressive driving, 145 tickets for distracted driving (95 of those for cellphone use) and 229 occupant restraint tickets. These statistics are based on December reports submitted up to Jan. 15.
SGI reminds motorists to always plan a safe ride home. Choose a designated driver, call a cab or designated driving service, take the bus, or spend the night. Use SGI’s free Safe Ride app to help keep track of safe ride options.
Saskatchewan introduced tougher impaired driving laws in 2014, including longer licence suspensions, immediate roadside vehicle impoundments, and mandatory ignition interlock for convicted impaired drivers. There is now also zero drug and alcohol tolerance for drivers under 19 years of age and for all drivers in the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program and Motorcycle GDL program.
Visit SGI’s website at www.sgi.sk.ca for more information about impaired driving and its consequences. Follow SGI on Facebook and Twitter for tips on how #wecandrivebetter.
