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This holiday season, SGI once again is urging people not to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The Crown corporation’s traffic safety spotlight for December is on impaired driving.
The organization has put together a video with first responders, people who have lost family members to impaired drivers, SGI staff and more to get across its hopes for a holiday season with no impaired driving.
December’s Traffic Safety Spotlight is on impaired driving. We asked some friends what they want from Santa. #DriveSober #PlanASafeRide pic.twitter.com/RKiH9ZP43Z
— SGI (@SGItweets) December 2, 2020
“Dear Santa: This year, I hope I don’t have to knock on a family’s door and tell them that someone that they love was killed because of impaired driving,” RCMP Cpl. Marsha Shaw said in the video.
“Dear Santa: This year, I wish that no more names get added to our memorial wall,” said Heather Tatham, whose husband was killed by an impaired driver.
SGI spokesperson Tyler McMurchy organizes campaigns like this every year.
On Thursday, he stressed how important it is to stay sober behind the wheel.
“When we talk about impaired driving, we talk about the statistics, fatalities and injuries. These aren’t just numbers. They’re people. It’s important to keep that in mind, that we all have somebody that we want to get home safe to. We want to make sure that everybody else on the road gets home safe as well,” he said.
Still, things are moving in the right direction.
Last year, fatalities and injuries from impaired driving were the lowest since SGI began keeping track in 2009.
McMurchy attributes that drop to a few different reasons.
“We have seen significant progress and significant reductions in impaired driving in the past few years …,” he said. “We do think the message is getting through to people …
“There isn’t one magic bullet that will solve this problem. It will take a combination of strong enforcement (and) strong awareness efforts … It’s also a reflection of legislative changes that have focused on ensuring that the consequences for impaired drivers are significant.”
While fewer people than ever before are driving drunk, there are still incidents that make McMurchy shake his head.
Last Friday, Regina police posted on social media about an impaired driving incident.
Thanks to all who called in about tonight’s impaired driver. This person blew 260mg% (.260) and luckily the 3 year old in the back was unharmed. Cst Bacon on the case. @reginapolice pic.twitter.com/S4KGg43Nvy
— Cst. Jim Monaghan 647 (@RPSTrafficUnit) November 28, 2020
“(That incident) really reminds us that as much as we have made significant progress in fighting impaired driving, there is still work to do,” McMurchy said.
