Drivers pulled over in Regina in March will face mandatory alcohol screening

Regina police will be focusing more intently on impaired drivers starting Friday.

The police service announced Thursday that officers in the Traffic Safety Unit will require drivers to take a mandatory roadside alcohol screening test when they’re pulled over.

“The traffic stops could be due to a driving infraction like a rolling stop, speeding or even simply ensuring the driver has a licence,” police said in a media release. “These stops will include the roadside alcohol screening test.

“The federal law that gives police this right actually took effect in 2018, but many drivers our officers encounter aren’t aware they are required to comply with a demand for the quick breath test, and they potentially face serious penalties for refusal.”

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Police said drivers who are sober and pass the roadside test will receive a gift certificate for a coffee from SGI and the police service.

In November, SGI launched a new campaign focusing on impaired driving.

The Crown insurer noted there had been a decrease in the number of collisions, injuries and deaths due to impaired driving over the past five years, but impaired driving is still the leading cause of collision deaths on Saskatchewan roads.

According to SGI, an average of 34 people die every year in Saskatchewan as a result of impaired driving.