With the holiday season underway, the Saskatchewan RCMP is urging the public to make responsible choices before getting behind the wheel.
“It’s absolutely heartbreaking notifying people that their loved one has been seriously injured – or worse, has passed away – as the result of a motor vehicle collision,” says Supt. Grant St. Germaine, officer in charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services. “It’s even more tragic when you know it could have been avoided if someone had made a more responsible decision.”
During the first 11 months of 2024, Saskatchewan RCMP officers encountered over 3,700 drivers who had recently consumed alcohol and/or drugs. Those interactions resulted in approximately 1,400 Criminal Code charges and 2,300 roadside suspensions.
The first week of December (Dec.1-7) was Canada Safe Driving Week. Saskatchewan RCMP and Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan officers checked over 1,400 drivers during the safety enforcement campaign, they identified 57 who had recently consumed drugs or alcohol prior to driving. Six were charged under the Criminal Code with impaired driving and 51 were issued roadside suspensions.
Of the roadside suspensions, 21 were found to have blood alcohol content of .04 to .08, 29 tested positive for cannabis consumption, and one tested positive for cannabis and cocaine consumption.
National Impaired Driving Enforcement Day was on December 7, CTSS officers were on patrol throughout the province, and determined that 36 drivers had recently consumed alcohol or drugs prior to driving. Of these, 12 were charged under the Criminal Code and 24 received roadside suspensions.
“Police officers will be patrolling our roads throughout the holiday season – and I hope everyone makes responsible choices, so we don’t have to respond to another call of an impaired driver, charge someone, or issue a roadside suspension,” Supt. St. Germaine says. “It’s my Christmas wish that Saskatchewan’s roads stay safe.
When travelling on the roads, don’t drive impaired.
If you see a suspected impaired driver, pull over and immediately call 911. Signs of a possible impaired driver include: lane drifting; driving too fast, slow or at an inconsistent speed; not using proper signals; making very wide turns; approaching and leaving intersections too slowly or quickly; and driving without headlights or leaving high beams or turn signals on.
Keep officers safe this holiday season. If you approach a check-stop, slow down and continue to follow the directions of the officers. If you approach an officer roadside with their emergency lights on, it’s the law that you must slow to 60 km/hr.