Impaired driving is the leading cause of road crash fatalities in Saskatchewan, and that is why it will be the focus of August’s Traffic Safety Spotlight.
Police agencies across the province will be on the lookout for impaired drivers.
There are several ways you can help keep impaired motorists off the road.
First, prevent impaired friends and family members from driving. Instead, call them a safe ride home or offer them a place to stay the night.
Second, if you observe someone you suspect is driving while impaired, please call 911 to report this through the Report Impaired Drivers (RID) program.
Remember to provide as many details as possible, including the location and direction the vehicle is travelling, the licence plate number, a description of the driver and the suspicious driving behaviour, along with the make, model and colour of the vehicle.
Not sure what to look for? These are 10 possible signs of an impaired driver:
- drifting in and out of lanes;
- driving unreasonably fast, slow or at an inconsistent speed;
- tailgating and changing lanes frequently;
- making exceptionally wide turns;
- changing lanes or passing without enough distance;
- overshooting or stopping well before stop signs or stop lights;
- disregarding signals and lights;
- approaching or leaving intersections too quickly or slowly;
- driving with windows open in cold or inclement weather;
- driving without headlights, failing to lower high beams or leaving turn signals on.
Saskatchewan has strict impaired driving laws, with zero tolerance for drug-impaired driving for all drivers, zero alcohol tolerance for new drivers, and penalties starting at .04 blood alcohol content (BAC) for experienced drivers.
Vehicles can be seized and licences suspended for at least three days due to poor results during a field sobriety test or registering a failure on a roadside screening device. Criminal Code charges are possible.
