WEYBURN - Alcohol and drugs affect the body in a way that can change a person’s judgement, depth perception and vital motor skills. This is why in the space of a few moments, one person’s decision to drink and then get behind the wheel can cause serious consequences.
During the holiday season, there is an increased focus on those who might be drinking, then driving. While people are out celebrating with friends and family, sometimes the thought of finding alternative travel arrangements can be far from the mind. It is important to remember that the consequences of drinking and driving can happen to anyone, at any time, with any amount of alcohol or drugs in a person’s system, so it is important to remember to be responsible while enjoying the season.
Operating a motor vehicle while sober can be difficult in itself, and adding alcohol or other intoxicants into the mix is putting the lives of others on the roadways at risk. It might be easy to think ‘I can handle this’, but just because an intoxicated driver might make it home safely does not mean that the right decision was made.
Every person who drives while impaired has the potential to cause a tragedy. In addition, everyone who stands by and watches someone who is intoxicated get behind the wheel also holds responsibility.
The solution to this problem does not just rest in the hands of law enforcement to find these violators and prosecute them, but within each and every person to make the conscious choice not to drink and drive.
Make the right choice while enjoying alcoholic beverages and recreational drugs during the holiday season, and put any car keys away. There are so many alternate ways to get home safely, including calling a cab company or assigning a designated driver.
Saskatchewan has a staggeringly high rate of impaired driving compared to the rest of the country, which is not something to be proud of. Many of the impaired driving cases are occurring in rural communities, where not everyone is being intercepted by law enforcement. The government can introduce legislation changes like increasing the zero-tolerance age, moving toward quicker vehicle seizures and longer mandatory ignition interlock penalties.
But drivers have to start thinking beyond the legislative consequences, and remember that it doesn’t matter if law enforcement might ‘catch them’ or not. What truly matters is taking that responsibility and choosing not to get behind the wheel in the first place.
The responsibility of not drinking and driving lies with the driver, their friends, their family. It takes great courage to lay aside those car keys, or to take them from an intoxicated driver, and make sure that everyone gets home safely.
