Cab coupons designed to fight impaired driving circulating in Prince Albert

A Prince Albert group is handing out free taxi rides to curb drunk driving this holiday season. (Jasmine Pelletier / CTV News)

The Community Alcohol Strategy Steering Committee (CASSC) is offering taxi coupons to lower rates of impaired driving, which has seen a rise in Prince Albert.

CASSC partnered with SGI and local cab companies, Grey Cab and Checker / Family Taxi, to offer $15 coupons as an incentive for people to avoid the dangerous behaviour.

"We just want to make sure that everybody has a really happy holiday season; that there's no tragedies on the road," said CASSC coordinator Karen Anthony-Burns.

"We really want to see that people make good choices, and this is an option to help them do that."

The Prince Albert Police Service said in a news release that two check stops were conducted this month by Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan and MADD, leading to a total eight impaired drivers being removed from public roadways.

The police said in a separate release that from Jan. 1 to Nov. 30, there was a 21 per cent increase in impaired driving offences in the city. Police recommend finding a safe ride, calling a sober friend or family member, taking a taxi or staying the night as alternatives to driving impaired.

The coupons are active seven days a week between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. at some local licensed establishments.

This year 150 cab coupons were distributed. The coupon program runs until Jan. 31 and another safe-ride service, Operation Red Nose, runs on weekends.