In December, SGI was reminding folks to plan ahead for a safe ride home after holiday celebrations.  

The insurance company sent out a media release yesterday stating that Saskatchewan police reported 414 impaired drivers caught on the roadways over the month—a bit of a hike up from November’s documented 342.  

Of those reported in December, 240 folks were charged with an impaired driving offence under the Criminal Code. Another 174 were issued a sanction for exceeding provincial limits for alcohol (.04 BAC for experienced drivers, .00 BAC for new drivers) or drugs (zero tolerance for all drivers). 

SGI added that all impaired driving offences come with Safe Driver Recognition penalties and require folks to attend impaired driver education courses; penalties are more severe upon conviction, and they can also result in suspensions, stiff fines and potential incarceration. 

“While this news release is about the hundreds of people who were caught driving impaired in December, it’s also worth noting that over the holiday season, thousands of people made good decisions and chose not to drive after drinking or using drugs,” the release read. “Kudos to everyone who got a ride home from a taxi, a bus, a rideshare, a designated driving service, Operation Red Nose, or a sober friend or family member.  

“The holidays may be over, but finding a safe ride is something that drivers should do year-round. Impaired driving offences come with a wide range of penalties that can wreck your budget, but an impaired driving collision can destroy so much more than that.” 

Other results from December include: 

  • 254 tickets for seatbelt and occupant restraint offences; 

  • 2,931 tickets for speeding and aggressive driving offences; and 

  • 491 tickets issued for distracted driving (411 for using cellphone while driving, and 80 for driving without due care and attention).