(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Healthy communities

SGI encouraging drivers to plan a safe ride home

Dec 31, 2020 | 4:00 PM

As a result of COVID-19 restrictions, the normal New Year’s Eve party plans will be a lot quieter this year, but SGI is still reminding people to plan a safe ride home if they do go out to enjoy a celebratory beverage.

Check stops will still be set in many places throughout the province, and there will also be other forms of targeted enforcement.

“If, for whatever reason, you are not staying home this evening, please ensure that you only get behind the wheel if you are sober,” a statement from SGI said.

As of November 31, Prince Albert Police reported 129 incidents related to impaired driving, 13 more than the same time period in 2019. Charlene Tebbutt, a spokesperson for the Prince Albert Police Service, advised paNOW members will be actively patrolling tonight.

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Due to provincial health orders, volunteers from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), will not be a part of any check stops in Prince Albert. Board member Karen Anthony Burns said she hopes people start the new year off right, with a safe and sober ride home

“We know that the celebrations might be smaller this year, but we still believe sober driving is as important as ever,” she said.

As an added incentive this year to encourage people to not drive impaired, the Community Alcohol Strategy Steering Committee distributed $10 cab coupons to local bars and taxi companies.

“They just have to tell their cab driver, if it’s between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. they would like to use the cab coupon,” Anthony-Burns said.

Wing in the New Year, a free transit service on New Year’s Eve, was suspended this year due to COVID-19. SGI hopes to resume the service next year.

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell