Bianca Bharti, Daily Herald
Impaired driving charges are on the rise in the province, according to SGI’s latest press release.
Last month, police reported 404 cases of impaired driving, up from 269 cases in April. Of those 404 cases, 352 drivers were criminally charged.
“… People still need to do a much better job of planning a safe ride home,” said Tyler McMurchy, media relations manager, in the release.
The 66 per cent increase from April to May shows that “not everyone has got the message” when it comes to impaired driving.
However, last year the province saw its lowest number of reported deaths and injuries related to impaired driving. There were 39 deaths and 340 injuries, compared to an average of 57 deaths and 596 injuries between 2012 and 2016.
People caught driving under the influence can have their license suspended, vehicles seized, receive demerit points and serve jail time.
Even with the recent legalization of marijuana, it is still illegal to drive while under the influence.
