Half of Sask. impaired drivers blew twice the legal limit, police say
Nearly half of those charged with impaired driving in the first two months of 2023 had two times the legal limit of alcohol in their blood, according to new numbers released by RCMP
"I wish we didn't have to continue to warn the public about the dangers of impaired driving. We know it's dangerous. We know its tragic consequences are 100 per cent preventable," Supt. Grant St. Germaine said in a Saskatchewan RCMP news release. "But we continue to find impaired drivers on Saskatchewan's roads."
In January and February, 138 drivers were arrested after breath samples showed they were over the legal limit. Sixty-six of those had samples that were twice the limit while 12 drivers had at least three times the amount permitted, RCMP said.
Two drivers charged were found to be at more than four times the legal limit.
"We're releasing these numbers to show you that people are continuing to get behind the wheel when it should be clear they shouldn't be," Supt. Gt. Germaine said in the release.
"Everyone needs to take responsibility and ensure that they, and those around them, are not driving when they are impaired by alcohol or drugs."
RCMP said drivers consuming alcohol or cannabis should appoint a designated driver or make an alternative transportation plan.
Anyone who sees a suspected impaired driver has been asked to call 911 immediately. Some signs to watch for, according to RCMP, are lane drifting, driving too fast or slow, improper signalling, making wide turns, or driving without headlights.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.