PROVINCE DECLARES IMPAIRED DRIVING AWARENESS WEEK

In an effort to remind everyone about the dangers of drinking and driving, Minister responsible for SGI June Draude has declared the week of March 7-13, 2010 as Provincial Impaired Driving Awareness Week.

"Drinking and driving continues to be the number one contributing factor in fatal crashes in Saskatchewan," Draude said. "In addition to the possibility of death or injury, impaired driving has other serious consequences, like licence suspensions, heavy fines and possibly jail time.

"This week is a reminder that, instead of taking that risk, drivers should always plan a safe ride home."

Draude kicked off the week by presenting Students Against Drinking and Driving (SADD) Saskatchewan with a cheque for $100,000 to show SGI's continued commitment to working with SADD to help combat impaired driving. The broad network of SADD chapters around the province is an important component of SGI's work to reach as many people as possible with the message to always plan a safe ride home. SADD is the sponsor of Provincial Impaired Driving Awareness Week.

Minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) Christine Tell also presented SADD with a cheque for $100,000. SLGA's funding will support SADD's national youth conference taking place in Regina this spring and help fund an advertising campaign focused on dispelling myths that young people are invincible when it comes to drinking and driving.

"SLGA is committed to ensuring the responsible use of beverage alcohol," Tell said. "By providing funding to SADD, SLGA is helping young people learn about the realities of beverage alcohol and the harm it can potentially cause."

"Thanks to our safety partners, we are able to raise awareness about this problem," SADD Saskatchewan President Jerry Larson said. "This week allows community organizations like SADD to educate our peers, families, communities and province about the effects of impaired driving and eventually bring the number of impaired drivers down to zero."

On average in Saskatchewan, there are more than 1,400 collisions each year involving an impaired driver, resulting in almost 850 injuries and more than 50 deaths.

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For more information, contact:

Tony Playter
Saskatchewan Government Insurance
Regina
Phone: 306-751-1837
Email: tplayter@sgi.sk.ca
Cell: 306-535-6207

Tim Spelliscy
SADD Saskatchewan
Regina
Phone: 306-757-5562
Email: sadd@sasktel.net
Cell: 306-757-5562

David Morris
306-787-1721
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1721
Email: DMorris@slga.gov.sk.ca