The final reports of 2017 from the Estevan Police Service (EPS) had a recurring theme.
Local police checked for impaired drivers through check stops, patrols and other means. But they didn’t locate any.
And in the final weeks of 2017, when Christmas parties were taking place throughout the city, and impaired driving can be a problem, police reported few such charges.
That’s not to say that some people weren’t driving while impaired, but the number of cases seemed to be down. And with the number of check stops on those weekends, and the attitude many people are taking towards impaired driving, it wouldn’t have been easy for a drunk driver to be on the roads.
While impaired driving has long been frowned upon, local attitudes towards it have really changed in the last couple of years. Local law enforcement agencies have held some of their largest check stops ever.
There have been some nights that could be classified as setbacks, such as one night last October when three motorists were arrested for impaired driving in Estevan.
And the local police chief mused early last year about the possibility of the crown seizing vehicles of motorists repeatedly arrested for impaired driving.
But it seems the number of impaired drivers has been down as of late, particularly when you compare it to the figures of two or three years ago.
Is it a reflection of a tougher stance taken by police, with more check stops in the community? Does it reflect assistance from the public, and a greater willingness to call the Report Impaired Drivers line? Is it due to stiffer penalties introduced by the provincial government for those who insist on driving while drunk?
Or is it a reflection of all the factors listed above?
To be sure, many people will be less willing to drive while impaired if they know there’s a greater chance of getting caught, because of a check stop, or because a concerned motorist reporting them.
We have long argued for stiffer sentences for those who are caught driving while impaired. Make it tougher for them to get their licence back. And if they’re caught again, or if their driving actions lead to a collision (particularly one that results in a fatality or injury) then the punishment should be harsh.
Yes, it’s difficult to survive in this day and age without a driver’s licence (particularly in communities in which public transit isn’t available), but deterrents need to be in place. Public safety needs to be the first priority.
If the numbers from the last few months are an indication, then maybe people are getting the message. Maybe they recognize that it’s a lot tougher to “get away with” driving while impaired.
Hopefully that’s the case, and the last few months aren’t just a statistical blip.
The numbers for 2017 as a whole will paint a better picture when they’re released early in 2018.
Now if we can only do something about the number of hit and run collisions in the city in the past couple of weeks. And people who think they can walk long distances to other communities in frigid conditions, while not wearing the appropriate clothing.
