As Saskatchewan’s impaired driving death and injury rate drops, the Lloydminster RCMP says they are continuing their efforts to help bring it to zero.
The Saskatchewan Government released it’s numbers for 2017, and it found that the rate of impaired driving deaths and injuries across the province had dropped 40 per cent since 2016. Preliminary data from Saskatchewan General Insurance says this means there were 36 deaths and 340 injuries.
Lloydminster RCMP Constable Grant Kirzinger says that impaired driving is a serious incident no matter what the number of drivers is.
“It is something we see on a regular basis, whether it be impaired collisions or impaired drivers. It is something we’re focused on, and want to continue on getting that number down to zero.”
In an effort to do that, Kirzinger says, the RCMP tries to educate the public on the dangers of impaired driving.He also says that drivers can help ensure lower impaired driving rates too.
“There’s a different lot of ways you can get home safe. Whether that’s having a designated driver, taking a taxi, calling a friend or family member, and depending on where you are, there’s the option to walk home as well.”
Kirzinger adds that as the summer ramps up, drivers should never drive other motorized vehicles, such as ATVs and boats impaired either, as it still poses many risks.