Both of Swift Current's RCMP branches recently gave out details outlining statistics for impaired driving observed during the 2018-19 holiday season.

The Swift Current Rural RCMP were able to provide statistics for the month of December, while the Swift Current Municipal RCMP provided data for the December 24 to January 1 time period.

Rural RCMP reported that they had received 13 calls regarding drinking and driving. That stat includes both reports of drinking and driving, as well as actual charges being handed to an alleged impaired driver.

Scott Hunter, sergeant and detachment commander for the Swift Current Rural Gull Lake and Kyle RCMP detachment said that around the holidays he sees a trend of less impaired driving.

"During the Christmas season and New Years, there seems to be a heightened awareness of impaired driving, and we notice an increase in designated drivers, there's an increase in traffic leaving celebrations like Christmas parties, but people seem to focus on a safe ride home at that time of year."

He also said that something on the federal level may have been dropping the statistic.

"There's also been a lot of information about the new impaired driving laws in the media recently, and I think that's been good for awareness."

Swift Current's Municipal RCMP Detachment reports that they charged seven people in total for impaired driving between December 24 and January 1. Five of those charges were under the criminal code, and three fell under the Traffic Safety Act.

Being charged with impaired driving under the Traffic Safety Act differs from the criminal code charge by applying to those operating a vehicle from the .04 to .08 blood-alcohol content, and being charged under the criminal code is above .08.