TOUGHER IMPAIRED DRIVING LAWS FOR SASKATCHEWAN

Released on June 19, 1996

Clay Serby, minister responsible for Saskatchewan Government Insurance
(SGI), today welcomed the final passage of legislation which gets tough
on impaired driving and introduces probationary licences for new
drivers, and announced the new legislation will become law on Aug. 1,
1996.

"Overall, The Highway and Vehicle Statutes Amendment Act is one of the
toughest and most comprehensive measures in Canada dealing with
drinking and driving," Serby said.

"This legislation is aimed at reducing the problems caused by impaired
driving. The legislation also requires new drivers to hold a
probationary drivers' licence for two years."

Highlights of this new legislation are:

The blood alcohol content (BAC) for 24-hour roadside suspensions
will be reduced to .04 from the current level of .06. The
Criminal Code (federal law) BAC for all drivers remains at .08.
This is the level at which drivers can be fined, convicted and/or
charged under the Criminal Code.

Education and addictions screening provisions for drivers who
exceed .04 BAC will be applied.

Statutory licence suspensions for Criminal Code convictions and
certain offenses under The Highway Traffic Act will be increased
from six months to one year for a first offence, from one year to
three years for the second offence and from three years to five
years for the third offence.

Mandatory alcohol addictions screening and completion of a
prescribed recovery program will be required for licence
reinstatement.

Convicted impaired drivers may apply for a restricted licence
after completing their education or treatment program, and will
receive driver's licence reinstatement after 50 per cent of the
suspension period has been served if education or treatment has
been completed.

Details of the probationary drivers' program are:

The probationary licence period is two years in length, not
including the required minimum six-month learning period.

There will be an immediate 30-day licence suspension for new
drivers who drive with a BAC over .04. The suspension period will
increase to 90 days for second and subsequent offences.

It will be mandatory for new drivers with a 30-day driver's
licence suspension to complete a Driving Without Impairment (DWI)
course. For second-time offenders, an addictions assessment,
followed by education or recovery treatment, will be required
before licence reinstatement.

"Harsher penalties for impaired drivers and closer monitoring of new
drivers will help to reduce traffic accidents, injuries and deaths,"
Serby said. "As well, they will help reduce the associated insurance
and health care costs.

"While there will be new and tougher laws for impaired driving, the
government is also making designated driving programs more available to
assist people in making a responsible choice.

"We know from the extensive public consultations held in the research
phase of this legislation, that there is strong and widely held support
for these measures, which will help make Saskatchewan roads safer."

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For more information, contact:

Darcy McKenzie
Communications, SGI
Regina
Phone: (306) 751-1347