982 new drivers suspended for exceeding alcohol, drug limits in 2023: SGI

Almost 1,000 new Saskatchewan drivers had their licences suspended in 2023 for exceeding provincial limits on alcohol or drugs.

According to SGI, 982 new drivers were penalized in that way last year.

The Crown insurance provider noted new drivers comprised just nine per cent of the licensed drivers in Saskatchewan last year, but accounted for more than 33 per cent of the year’s impaired driving administrative suspensions.

“Are you a Novice driver, a Learner or under the age of 22? Here’s some advice that will keep you from getting your licence suspended for 60 days and your vehicle impounded: Don’t drink alcohol or take cannabis (or any other drugs) and then drive. Not even a little bit,” SGI said in a release.

SGI said a new driver is anyone who is in the Graduated Driver Licensing program or is age 21 and under. Even experienced drivers – people who are 22 years old or older and aren’t considered a Learner or Novice – can’t legally drive with a blood-alcohol concentration above .04.

“Police officers have access to roadside testing devices for both alcohol and drugs,” the release said. “A positive result on either means a new driver will lose their licence for at least 60 days, and the vehicle they were driving will be immediately impounded for three days.”

As of Monday, all traffic stops conducted by the RCMP in Saskatchewan will result in drivers undergoing mandatory alcohol screenings. A similar program operated in Regina in March.

In February, police officers across the province detected 449 impaired driving offences, laying 171 Criminal Code charges and issuing 278 administrative suspensions.

Officers also handed out 440 tickets for distracted driving (including 372 for using a cellphone while driving), 245 occupant restraint tickets (for not wearing a seatbelt, or not having children in the proper car seat or booster) and 3,694 tickets for other speeding or aggressive driving offences.