People all over Saskatchewan, including in Yorkton and area, can help keep roads safe now that the Report Impaired Drivers (RID) program is in effect across the province.
RID encourages the public to call 911 if they see a driver they suspect is impaired.
"Sixty people are killed and another 800 are injured in our province each year due to impaired driving collisions," Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) and the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) Tim McMillan said. "With the support of the RCMP and a whole province behind it, the RID program helps remove impaired drivers from our roads, preventing these senseless collisions from happening in the first place."
RID is a partnership led by SGI, SLGA and the RCMP, with support from Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Students Against Drinking and Driving. It began as a pilot program in Saskatoon in March 2010, expanded to Regina in September 2010, to Moose Jaw and Prince Albert in March and to Weyburn and Estevan in September.
Since then, police say RID calls have led to 300 impaired driving charges. Police have also sent warning letters to more than 2,100 vehicle owners, advising them their vehicle was reported as being operated by a suspected impaired driver.
It is recommended that drivers pull over safely to the side of the road before dialing, or have a passenger make the 911 call.
