Impaired driving is the traffic safety spotlight for the month of October.
Throughout the month, police across the province will be watching for drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Police will also be watching for distracted drivers, as well as other unsafe driving behaviours such as speeding and failing to wear a seat belt. SGI will also be raising awareness of the dangers of impaired driving through advertising and social media promotion.
Preliminary numbers for 2015 show 53 people were killed and 562 others were injured in Saskatchewan in crashes related to impaired driving. In 2015, 44% of traffic fatalities in the province involved alcohol or drug use.
Follow these tips to help keep our roads free of impaired drivers: Plan a safe ride home before you start drinking and your judgment is impaired; know the laws, consequences for impaired driving begin at a blood alcohol content of 0 for new drivers and .04 for experienced drivers.
Don’t let your friends or family drive impaired. Take away their keys, offer to call them a cab or safe ride service, or let them stay the night. Volunteer to be the designated driver, take turns with your friends or coworkers. Don’t get into a vehicle with someone you know has been drinking or using drugs. Call 911 to report suspected impaired drivers to police.
Consequences for impaired driving in Saskatchewan are serious and include immediate roadside licence suspensions and vehicle seizures, mandatory ignition interlock in some cases, education requirements such as completing a Driving Without Impairment course, fines and even jail time.
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 safety tips to #TakeCareOutThere.
Use SGI’s free Safe Ride app to keep track of your safe ride options.
