Saskatchewan Government Insurance says 982 new drivers had their license suspended last year when they exceeded the provincial limits on cannabis and alcohol.

Novice drivers, those with a Learners, or under age of 22 years will have their license suspended for 60 days and vehicle impounded if they drink alcohol or take cannabis.   SGI says new drivers make up just nine per cent of the licensed drivers in Saskatchewan, but accounted for more than 33 per cent of 2023’s impaired driving administrative suspensions.

A new driver is classified as anyone who is in the Graduated Driver Licensing program or is age 21 and under. Experienced drivers  cannot legally drive with a Blood Alcohol Concentration above .04.  And the province has a zero tolerance law for all drivers when it comes to drug-impaired driving.

During February there were 449 impaired driving offences logged.  That included 171 Criminal Code charges and 278 administrative suspensions.   Distracted driving accounted for 440 tickets of which 372 were for using a cellphone while driving.

There were also 245 tickets issued for not wearing a seatbelt or not having children in a proper car seat or booster.  And police handed out 3,694 tickets for other speeding or aggressive driving offences.