Impaired driving remains the leading cause of death on Saskatchewan’s roads, but one programs continues to combat this problem.
This month marks the 10-year anniversary of the province’s Report Impaired Drivers (RID) program.
The RID program was spearheaded by SGI, the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority and police agencies across the province, with support from Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Students Against Drinking and Driving. It launched in Saskatoon in 2010. It was then expanded and rolled out to the rest of the province in 2011.
The program has made a difference; from 2010 to 2019, RID calls resulted in 2,870 Criminal Code charges, and an additional 581 roadside suspensions, along with 1,750 other charges.
“Having the eyes of the public watching for impaired drivers and sharing that information with police is making a difference,” said S/Sgt. Ryan Frost, District Commander of Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan, in a press release. “The Report Impaired Drivers program is another tool that police have to help stop impaired driving.”
If you suspect an impaired driver you should pull over and call 911. Be sure to provide as much information as possible. Required information will include the location and direction the vehicle is travelling, along with the make, model and colour of the vehicle, the licence plate number, along with a description of the driver and their behaviour.
Know what to look for? Some of the common signs of impaired driving include:
- 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 sufficient clearance;
- 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.
More information is available online.
