ESTEVAN – The Estevan Police Service is reminding the public to not drive while impaired now that Christmas parties and other festive get-togethers have started.
Chief Jamie Blunden told SaskToday that the EPS has been promoting the anti-impaired message by talking to the media and using the EPS’s website and social media accounts.
“We do have some extra members that are going to be on during the holiday season, specifically for monitoring of impaired drivers,” said Blunden.
The number of arrests this year for impairment by alcohol is down this year, he said, but incidents of impairment by drug are stable. The EPS can test for drug-affected driving.
“Five years ago … with the technology that we had, we didn’t do a lot of arrests, so that number can be skewed a little bit, and it’s misleading, but we do know from last year to this year, we’re status quo with the impaired by drug, so we do have to do some more vigilance when it comes to that, and I do think the community has to step a little bit when it comes to drug-impaired driving.”
Check stops will be happening as Christmas approaches, Blunden said. In the past, the EPS has had positive policing initiatives and partnerships with organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Students Against Drinking and Driving.
He believes some people don’t think the police have the ability to test for drugs like officers can for alcohol, but the EPS has experts in the area to detect if someone’s on drugs and they have technology to determine if a motorist is impaired.
Most businesses and organizations that are having Christmas parties will have a safe ride home, he said, because they know there’s no excuse for impaired driving. And people have lots of options for getting home safe – be it a taxi, a designated driver, a ride home from a family member or friend, or even a walk home if the temperatures aren’t too cold and the person is dressed for the weather.
“Find a designated driver. Go and enjoy yourself at the Christmas events that you’re at, the parties. We don’t expect you not to, but we expect you to make sure that somebody that is sober, both from drugs and alcohol, should be driving, and not the person that’s enjoyed themselves a bit.”
