(File photo/CJME News Staff)

By CJME News

SGI: Police charge 330 impaired drivers in February

Mar 19, 2021 | 12:37 PM

The latest numbers from SGI show impaired driving remains problematic in the province.

In its February edition of the Traffic Safety Spotlight, the Crown insurer said police reported 330 cases of impaired driving, including 262 criminal charges and 67 roadside administrative suspensions.

“Saskatchewan drivers have changed the culture of impaired driving in Saskatchewan. However, in spite of significant progress, impaired driving is still the leading cause of death on Saskatchewan roads and is 100 per cent preventable,” states a news release.

SGI says police will conduct three more blitzes this year, in May, September and December.

“An impaired driving charge can turn your life upside down, with licence suspensions, vehicle impoundments, Ignition Interlock, Driving Without Impairment courses and costly Safe Driver Recognition penalties, in addition to any court-ordered fines, jail time and driving prohibitions,” the release said.

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Last month, police were also cracking down on suspended and disqualified drivers, catching 409 of them and writing 459 tickets for driving an unregistered vehicle.

“Causing a collision while driving without proper insurance coverage could leave you personally responsible for thousands of dollars in damages,” the release said. “Even if you avoid a crash, getting caught driving an unregistered vehicle will lead to a minimum $580 fine. Driving while suspended results in an automatic court summons, and — in many cases — will result in your vehicle being immediately impounded.”

Other numbers from February included 4,917 tickets for speeding or aggressive driving, 402 tickets for improper use of seatbelts or child restraints, and 664 tickets for distracted driving.