Culture of drinking and driving in Saskatchewan starts young - Action News
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Saskatchewan

Culture of drinking and driving in Saskatchewan starts young

Saskatchewan has some of the highest rates of drinking and driving in the country, and young people still make up the majority of intoxicated drivers.

SGI figures show young adults make up the highest number of intoxicated drivers

An empty glass and keys on a table.
Holiday spot check and safe ride programs are still needed in Greater Sudbury. (CBC)

Saskatchewan has some of the highest rates of drinking and driving in the country, and young people still make up the majority of intoxicated drivers.

The most recent numbers SGI has on file are from 2014.

Last month Premier Brad Wall made a Facebook post asking people in the province to challenge drinking and driving culture.

The post highlighted that awareness was spreading among younger people, and suggested impaireddriving was more prevalent in older generations.

But Saskatchewan has a long way to go in addressing that culture,even with younger drivers.

According to the Students Against DrinkingandDriving group atRiffel High School in Reginaand SGI numbers it is still happening.

"I think we just like to blame it on the generation before us," saidBernadette Couture

"But because we think that way, we takemore risks and we are actually worse."

She is the president of Students Against Drinking and Driving at her school, and got involved to help end the normality of driving while intoxicated.

Couture said that there has been a strong push in education and talking about the risks of driving under the influence, but young people are still making that decision.

"There is different things. Especially when you're younger and you just become legal, you go out to the bar and drink a lot," said Couture.

"But then you don't plan ahead. I think that's the thing that people really need to start doing."