By Angela Brown

RCMP warn drivers not to drive drunk during holidays

Dec 28, 2017 | 10:56 AM

The Battlefords RCMP are reminding people heading out in their vehicles over the holidays not to drink and drive so everyone can get home safely.

RCMP Sgt. Neil Tremblay said the police had a few blitzes at the beginning of December – holding check stops patrols and conducting what are called moving patrols to monitor drivers on the roads. He said local officers expect to use the same tactic over New Year’s Eve and the weekend during holiday celebrations. 

“This weekend we have some increased enforcement again,” he said. “[We’ll] try to check as wide an area as possible. We’ll be doing both the city and in the rural areas.” 

Tremblay said drivers can call Operation Red Nose, plan for a designated driver or get a taxi if they need a ride home after drinking.

“It’s just to encourage people to have fun in a responsible way, and make sure they get home safely,” Tremblay added. 

Rustlers Volleyball

Crusaders' Bell excited for next chapter with Lakeland College

17h ago

Nothing but Net

Vikings' standouts ready for national stage with Team Saskatchewan

20h ago

Missing person

Spiritwood RCMP searching for missing woman

23h ago

Looking at the stats for the month of December to date, Tremblay said the Battlefords RCMP reported at least a dozen incidents related to drinking and driving, and from December 22 to 28 over the Christmas holidays only one case of impaired driving.

Tremblay said having just one incident in the past week has been a good sign, but he added perhaps there were other impaired drivers on the roads that police didn’t catch which is always a concern.

“When the numbers are low you have to ask yourself: Are we missing some?” he said. “But it’s also a good indication we haven’t had any collisions where alcohol was a factor. So that’s encouraging.

“It’s sad to see when you get an accident, and then you find alcohol is involved. We haven’t had any serious collisions in our general area and none of them [were] alcohol related, at least at this point.” 

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow