Every year Saskatchewan joins the nation in recognizing the devastating impact of impaired driving. SADD Saskatchewan coordinates school presentations, chapter activities, and public awareness campaigns across the province during Awareness Week.
The Government of Canada has designated the third week of March as National Impaired Driving Prevention Week, following the unanimous adoption of Motion M-148 by the House of Commons. The Province of Saskatchewan issues a formal proclamation each year recognizing the week and the work of students and communities committed to safer roads.
Impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death and injury in Canada. Every year, impaired driving destroys the lives and health of thousands of Canadians. The good news: it is 100% preventable.
Remember — impaired driving doesn’t just apply to cars. It also applies to motorcycles, boats, ATVs, snowmobiles, and other forms of transportation. Everyone has a role to play in keeping Saskatchewan’s roads, trails, and waterways safe.
Saskatchewan issues a formal provincial proclamation each year recognizing Awareness Week. View past proclamations →
Impaired driving — whether by alcohol or drugs — continues to kill or injure more Canadians than any other crime. Drug-impaired driving incidents increased by 43% between 2019 and 2020 alone.
Alcohol, cannabis, illegal drugs, over-the-counter medications, and prescription drugs can all impact your judgement, coordination, and reaction time behind the wheel. Even legally prescribed medications can impair your ability to drive safely.
Even small amounts of alcohol or cannabis affect your decision-making ability before you feel impaired.
Drugs and alcohol slow the neural connections needed for precise vehicle control.
At highway speeds, a fraction of a second can mean the difference between a close call and a fatal crash.
Crashes involving alcohol and/or drugs are a leading criminal cause of death in Canada. It is important to know that just one alcoholic drink can reduce your reaction time, blur or double your vision, impair your reflexes, and alter your attention span.
Alcohol affects the muscles that control your eyes, reducing depth perception and clarity.
Alcohol slows the messages sent between your brain and body, adding critical seconds to your response.
Coordination deteriorates even before the legal blood alcohol limit is reached.
Alcohol reduces your ability to track multiple objects and anticipate hazards on the road.
Fatigued driving is the dangerous combination of driving and sleepiness or fatigue. At 100 km/h, a driver travels 150 metres in only six seconds. A driver’s eyes need to be closed for only three or four seconds before they could face disastrous consequences.
Driver distraction is a factor in about 4 million motor vehicle crashes in North America each year. It is estimated that drivers look at, but fail to see, up to 50% of the information in their driving environment when using their phones.
Abstain from using your phone to text or dial while driving or at a red light. In Saskatchewan, distracted driving fines are significant and demerit points apply.
Federal campaign about cannabis-impaired driving.
Resources to talk to youth about cannabis and driving.
Current federal impaired driving legislation.
RCMP resources for youth and communities.
Statistics on alcohol and drug involvement in crashes.
The official Government of Canada Awareness Week page.
External links open Government of Canada and national organization websites. SADD Saskatchewan does not control the content of external sites.
Awareness Week is one of the most impactful times of year for SADD chapters. Past chapter activities have included school assemblies, spirit weeks, social media campaigns, guest speaker events, and community awareness booths.
SADD Saskatchewan coordinates school presentations through the SGI Speakers Program during Awareness Week each year. Contact the provincial office to arrange a speaker visit for your school.
Provincial Impaired Driving Awareness Week is held during the third week of March each year, in alignment with the national federal designation. The Province of Saskatchewan issues a formal proclamation each year officially recognizing the week.
To arrange a school presentation or get involved in Awareness Week activities:
(306) 757-5562 sadd@sasktel.netJoin SADD Saskatchewan chapters across the province in raising awareness every March.
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