More than 200 impaired drivers charged during Saskatchewan holiday safety blitz

During a month-long “Operation Overdrive” traffic safety blitz, law and traffic enforcement officers in Saskatchewan checked more than 8,600 vehicles and issued more than 2,400 tickets, more than 200 of which were for impaired driving, Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) said Friday. 

The 2,416 tickets issued in December 2012 included:

• 217 for impaired driving
• 188 roadside suspensions
• 621 for aggressive driving (speeding, driving without due care & attention, unsafe passing, failing to stop at stop signs, red lights, etc.)
• 133 for improper or non-seatbelt use
• 46 for cellphone use while driving
• 41 for open alcohol in a vehicle
• 1,170 other tickets

Operation Overdrive is partially funded by SGI. In December 2011, a two-day Operation Overdrive traffic safety blitz resulted in 4,200 vehicles being checked by law enforcement officers, and saw a total of 241 tickets issued, with 25 drivers charged with impaired driving, according to SGI.    The safety blitz was extended for the entire holiday season in 2012, to help combat impaired-driving related deaths in the province.    In 2011, Saskatchewan saw 136 alcohol-involved collisions throughout the holiday season, resulting in 64 injuries and three fatalities. Overall in 2011, 52 people were killed and 619 people were injured in a total of 1,284 alcohol-related collisions across the province.