Despite their best efforts, SGI is still frustrated about the amount of people ignoring their message to stop drinking and driving.
December marked a third consecutive month where SGI teamed up with Saskatchewan law enforcement to focus on impaired driving.
The month saw an extensive communication campaign as well as numerous safe-ride-home efforts such as Operation Red Nose, an initiative co-sponsored by SGI that was active in four cities. Both municipal police forces and the RCMP stepped up their well-publicized enforcement efforts throughout the holiday season as well.
But in a news release issued Monday, SGI lamented that too many people in the province had still made “the poor decision to drive after drinking,” in spite of all those efforts.
"It's certainly disappointing,” said Earl Cameron, executive vice-president of the Auto Fund.
“After extensive coverage in the media about safe ride options, increased enforcement and the tougher impaired driving laws that would be coming into effect on Jan. 1, 2017, people are still choosing to drive when they shouldn't."
According to numbers released by SGI, there were 353 offences related to impaired driving, up from 308 the previous December. Ten people were charged with a blood alcohol content between .04 and.08, which cost those drivers three-day licence suspensions and four demerit points, and required them to complete a Driving Without Impairment course.
SGI also noted impaired driving laws changed as of Jan. 1, and under those tougher laws the drivers’ vehicles would have been seized for three days.
SGI also reported that 343 criminal code charges were laid for driving while legally impaired or refusing to give a breath test when demanded by police. Penalties included losing their licence for a year, up to $17,750 in penalties and losing up to 20 points on their driving record. Consequences also include a criminal record, having ignition interlock installed for a year after getting a licence back, and thousands of dollars in legal fees.
All in all these were disappointing numbers to report, according to SGI.
"Wouldn't it be great to be able to report zero impaired driving charges next month?” Cameron stated. “And it's possible — by making smart choices, and planning ahead. Let's make sure everyone gets home safe."
He urged people who know they will be drinking to plan a safe ride home in advance.
“Because once you've been drinking, your judgment can be impaired and you may make the bad decision to get behind the wheel," said Cameron. "So take that temptation away, right from the start. Don't even take a vehicle if you're going to drink. Make plans to get there and back safe and sober."
While impaired driving was the focus last month, law enforcement also issued the following tickets in December: 2,894 for speeding violations, 282 distracted driving offences (including 144 for cellphone use), and 167 tickets for inappropriate or no seatbelt/child safety seat.
SGI is also reminding drivers that efforts to focus on impaired driving will continue throughout January as well. They urge people not to drink and drive and to always plan a safe ride home.
