Impaired Charges Jump Slightly In August
Four times a year SGI runs a Traffic Safety Spotlight where they target impaired drivers and August was a bit of a disappointment as the numbers took a slight jump from other months when impaired driving was specifically targeted.
In August police reported 463 impaired driving offences.
Criminal impairment offences were about average with 379 drivers charged under the Criminal Code for exceeding .08 or impairment by drugs.
If convicted those charged will face a license suspension. Additionally they will also face fines and potential jail time or both.
Administrative roadside suspensions saw 84 drivers lose their license for a minimum of 72 hours plus their vehicle towed and impounded.
Those who are caught for a second time lose their license for seven days and also have their vehicle towed and impouinded for seven days.
In Saskatchewan administrative suspensions for experienced drivers are issued for those have a blood alcohol level of .04 to .08. They also can face administrative suspensions for having any drugs in their system as there is zero tolerance to any amount of drugs.
For novice drivers and those under 21 there is zero tolerance allowed for drugs and alcohol while driving.
Tyler McMurchy media relations manager with SGI said that “463 impairment offences is on the high side.”
The average monthly impaired offences hovers around the 300 to 450 mark.
McMurchy said the numbers are often a “function on the amount of enforcement the police are doing” but even one person driving impaired is too many. If police are actively looking for impaired drivers through roadside and other checks the numbers ususally go up.
Although the number of people killed in automobile accidents has been dropping over the past decade the number one cause of fatalities reamains impaired driving, he said.
In 2019 there were 71 fatalities and 21 of those fatalities was directly attributable to impaired driving. The 21 represent a smaller number of impaired related fatalities compared to the annual average of 59 fatalities resulting from impaired driving from 2009 - 2018.
McMurchy said SGI is not opposed to people having a few drinks or using recreational cannabis but they are opposed to people getting behind the wheel and driving when they are impaired.
Although the figures are not broken down as to whether the impairment was from alcohol or cannabis the police will stringently enforce the impairment laws.
For people who are impaired from alcohol it could mean a trip to the breathalyzer and for those with drug impairment it could mean a trip to the police station where a 12 step drug recognition evaluation will take place and includes a blood test.
Roadside there are now two machines used by police to help determine impairment from drugs.
For a look at the 12 steps of Drug Recognition Evaluation watch the video below.
Other results reported by police for the month of August include:
7,851 speeding and aggressive driving offences
556 distracted driving offences, including 461 for cellphone use while driving; and
576 seatbelt and child restraint offences.
SGI asks that of you do partake in alcohol and drugs you take a cab, have a sober friend drive you home, make plans ahead of time to secure a ride from a designated sober driver and if you suspect an impaired driver they be reported by calling 911.