We shouldn’t be encouraged that 39 people died in impaired driving-related collisions in Saskatchewan last year.
After all, that represents 39 people whose lives ended prematurely and unnecessarily. Thirty-nine people whose family members and friends had their lives tragically altered.
Another 340 people were injured in impaired driving-related collisions.
Yet the number of impaired-related fatalities was way down from the five-year averages of 57 deaths and 596 injuries.
So from that perspective, it is an encouraging sign. But we can’t deny that work still remains.
Thirty-nine fatalities is still a lot for a province the size of Saskatchewan. One death related to impaired driving is too many; 39 is far too much.
The provincial government has tried different tactics to reduce the number of impaired drivers in the province. There have been touching but emotion-based campaigns. There have been tougher punishments and restrictions, not only for those whose blood alcohol content is over .08, but those whose breath is between .04 and .08.
And there have been public awareness initiatives to remind Saskatchewan people that this is an issue.
Incredulously, you have had people critical of the impaired driving crackdown. They question the need to have punishments for those whose blood alcohol content is above .04. They argue that there are more pressing issues in Saskatchewan than people who drive after having a couple of drinks.
And they say these tougher measures are tough on bars and restaurants, particularly those in small communities.
But when impaired driving levels are as high as they are in Saskatchewan, it leaves the government and law enforcement no choice but to be tough.
We also have to remember that the numbers for 2017 represent just one year. It would be easy to say we’re on the right track when it comes to impaired driving. But one bad year and we’ll be asking the same questions we were in 2015 and 2016 of how to curtail Saskatchewan’s frighteningly high impaired driving rates.
If we get two or three years with significant declines, that would be a positive sign that the people of this province are getting the message about impaired driving.
It’s also encouraging to see the Estevan Police Service continuing with its efforts to curb impaired driving in Estevan. A productive meeting was held in February. Recommendations have been put in place since then, including the decision to publicize the names of those charged with impaired driving.
We’d like to report that the number of impaired driving-related charges is down in Estevan this year, but that’s not the case. They have gone up since that February meeting, although not by much. So some people still haven’t received the message about the risk of driving while impaired by alcohol and drugs.
The EPS has been cracking down on impaired driving in recent years, and it’s good to see they aren’t letting up.
Hopefully the number of fatalities on Saskatchewan highways will continue to decline. Hopefully people are gaining a greater understanding of the consequences of impaired driving.
And hopefully the number of impaired drivers caught in Estevan will eventually trend in the right direction, which is down.
