Police forces, SGI work for a safe holiday season

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Nothing ruins the joyous spirit of the holiday season like a tragedy. Over the Christmas and New Year's period, people's minds are on family and friends, festivities and frivolity, fine food and faith. However, it only takes one small mistake, one hastily made decision, for all such pleasant thoughts to dissipate like so much wind-born snow.

The mistake is driving after drinking, and though all should by now know the foolishness of such actions, SGI and the province's police forces are once again engaged in their annual campaigns to inform the public about drinking and driving's dangers and to catch those who continue to engage in such activities in the face of all common sense.

"With the Christmas season coming up, we're of course going to have increased enforcement," said Corporal Don Parchomchuk of the RCMP community services department. "We'll be doing many stop checks focusing on impaired drivers and alcohol related offences."

"Our annual winter check stop program runs through the holiday season until the second week of January," said Sergeant Keith Atkinson from the media relations department of the Saskatoon city police. "We set up at various locations throughout Saskatoon, and we'll be targeting drinking and driving offences and licensing violations-people who may be prohibited from driving and things of that nature."

While it falls to the province's police forces to maintain the safety of city streets and rural roadways, Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) makes it own contribution toward the public good through its annual holiday advertising campaign.

"SGI is doing an ad campaign with billboards, TV and radio, the same as we did last year. It's the Santa's Little Helpers campaign. We want the public to view the police as Santa's little helpers, and to be aware that the police will be out in force during the holiday season," explained Shannon Ell, SGI's supervisor of traffic safety promotions. Ell also points out the importance of volunteer programs and initiatives in spreading the message of safety.

"There are Red Ribbon campaigns that both MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and SADD (Students Against Drinking and Driving) have started, which certainly helps."

Though no one would claim that drinking and driving isn't still a big problem, especially during the holiday season, the year-round enforcement and public awareness initiatives of police forces and SGI does seem to be having an effect on public behavior.

"Through September, we've noticed a decline in impaired driving here in Saskatoon this year compared to last. We're down about 20 per cent right now," Atkinson pointed out. "I think there has been a lot of media attention given to it, especially with SGI's big campaigns. I think people are just taking a more responsible attitude toward drinking and driving. We're encouraged when we see employers offering cabs for their people at Christmas parties, having a designated driver present and that sort of thing. That's very good."

"The public awareness over the past few years has been increasing. People are just more aware, they know that the police will be out and they're taking more precautions to make sure they have rides home," agreed Parchomchuk.

Fewer impaired drivers, unfortunately, does not mean no impaired drivers, and even one on the province's roadways can be more than enough to cause a disaster.

"It is still the time of the year when people do like to have a bit more to drink. It's important that people do remember the dangers of drinking and driving, and that there's a good chance you will get caught if you do it," warned Ell.

"We've still got to get out there and make sure that everybody is staying sober that's driving," said Parchomchuk. "Hopefully nobody gets hurt."