Saskatchewan impaired driving deaths and injuries at record low in 2019

The number of deaths and injuries from impaired driving is trending in the right direction in Saskatchewan.

2019 was a record-breaking year for lows in terms of both deaths and injuries.

Back in 2018, 43 people were killed. That number was reduced to 21 last year. There were 360 injuries in 2018, which dropped to 332. Both of those are the lowest totals since SGI started keeping track in 2009.

Joe Hargrave, Minister Responsible for SGI, is glad to see the decrease, but still thinks there’s work to be done.

“We can look at the numbers and feel good about the progress made, but we can not feel good that there were still 21 lives lost to impaired driving. One life lost to impaired driving is one too many,” he said.

“We can’t be satisfied with these numbers. We need to improve on them.”

As for what led to the decline, Hargrave attributes it to multiple different factors.

“I believe we’re seeing a long-overdue culture change in Saskatchewan regarding impaired driving… More and more people in this province are deciding that it’s simply not okay to drive impaired,” he said.

He pointed to increased enforcement, the introduction of options like ride-sharing, and SGI awareness campaigns as reasons the numbers have gone down.

However, he thinks one of the biggest reasons comes down to the families of victims sharing their stories.

Lou and Linda Van de Vorst lost their son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren to an impaired driver in 2016. They’ve been vocal in sharing their story and spreading awareness on the dangers of impaired driving.

Lou echoed Hargrave’s sentiments on the new numbers: while it’s good to see a decline, more needs to be done.

“That number of 21 is a vast improvement and I’m so happy to see that… but 21 is not good enough… it burns (my heart) when I hear (about impaired driving deaths). It’s so unnecessary… so irresponsible,” he said. “I can feel their pain.”

“I really think we need to do more so that we can drive that number down even further… I would love to see zero, but even a lower number again, that means that we’re on the right track,” he explained.