Police caught 476 impaired drivers in May: SGI

Almost 500 people in Saskatchewan are learning a hard lesson after they were caught driving while impaired last month.

According to SGI, police across Saskatchewan caught 476 people driving over the legal drug and alcohol limits in May. That figure includes 206 Criminal Code charges, along with 270 administrative suspensions for exceeding the provincial limits.

“Daytime or nighttime, the consequences for impaired driving are the same,” the Crown insurer said in a statement.

“All impaired driving offences result in licence suspensions, vehicle impoundments, mandatory driver education and Safe Driver Recognition demerits. Criminal Code impaired diving offences carry more significant penalties, like fines and/or jail time and Ignition Interlock requirements upon conviction.”

SGI noted that impaired driving is the leading cause of death on the province’s roadways.

“Keep the good times rolling this summer by only driving when sober,” SGI said.

During May, police across the province also issued 841 tickets for distracted driving — including 732 for cellphone use — along with 490 seatbelt and car seat offences and 5,338 tickets for speeding and aggressive driving.