Issue Info — SADD Saskatchewan

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. It slows brain function, impairs judgment, reduces reaction time, and affects coordination. Even small amounts impair driving ability — well before the legal limit.

BAC is the measure of alcohol in your bloodstream. In Saskatchewan, drivers with a BAC of .08 or above face criminal charges. Drivers with a BAC between .04 and .079 face immediate roadside suspensions.

Alcohol impairs your ability to assess your own impairment. People consistently underestimate how impaired they are. This is one reason impaired driving is so dangerous — the driver's judgment about their own capability is compromised.

Driver fatigue compounds the effects of alcohol. Even moderate alcohol consumption combined with fatigue produces impairment equivalent to much higher BAC levels.

Poor Reasons to Drive Impaired

"I only had a couple."

Impairment begins with the first drink. There is no safe amount for driving.

"I'm not going far."

Most impaired driving crashes happen close to home. Distance doesn't reduce risk.

"I've done it before."

Past luck is not a safety guarantee. The consequences of impaired driving are random and severe.

"I can't afford a cab."

The cost of a cab is a fraction of the financial, legal, and human cost of an impaired driving charge or collision.

"I'm a good driver."

Impairment degrades the ability of every driver, regardless of experience or skill level.

What You Can Do

Ways to Ensure a Safe Ride Home

Designate a sober driver before you go out
Use a rideshare app (Uber, Lyft, or local taxi)
Call a friend, parent, or family member
Use public transit
Stay where you are until sober
Use a volunteer designated driver program if available
Never get in a vehicle with an impaired driver — speak up

"Be a responsible friend. Have someone for the road."

Friends making a plan for a safe ride home

Issue Information

The Scale of the Problem

Key Topics

Ways to Ensure a Safe Ride Home

Know the Law. Know the Consequences.