SGI is holding a contest that encourages teen drivers to be safe.

Leading up to National Teen Driver Safety Week, SGI is holding a social media contest called 'Stop the Goat'.

Media Relations Manager with SGI, Tyler McMurchy, explained that this contest isn't new to teens in the province.

"Last year SGI in promotion of National Teen Driver Safety Week ran a social media contest called 'Stop the Goat',” he said. “Now, this goat is a virtual mascot, so to speak. It represents what drivers are not supposed to do. This goat has bad habits and makes bad choices while he's driving, he's just a bad driver. He drives impaired, he drives distracted, he drives too fast."

"Anyone 15 to 19 who lives in Saskatchewan can enter, and all they had to do is find one of our Stop the Goat post on either Instagram or Facebook and like it, tag two friends, and they're automatically entered, and because it's running on two separate platforms they can enter on both," McMurchy continued. "You have up to four chances to win per teen, and the prize is a $250 VISA gift card." 

Teens make up just seven per cent of Saskatchewan drivers but were involved in 16 per cent of major injury collisions and nine per cent of fatal collisions last year.  

"When it comes to distraction, teen drivers in 2018 were involved in 710 collisions, which resulted in 98 injuries and one fatality,” McMurchy noted. “With Octobers, Traffic Safety Spotlight also being on the issue of distracted driving it's doubly important. It's also important for them to be sure that their only driving sober and planning a safe ride home if they are going somewhere were impairment is part of their plans and of course, obeying speed limits is always a good idea."  

In addition, law enforcement in Saskatchewan will be handing out “positive tickets” in the lead up to and during National Teen Driver Safety Week to reward teens for safe driving behaviours. If they’re buckled in, they’re driving the posted limit, and they’re driving undistracted. Positive tickets also come with some “Stop the Goat” prizes for teens driving safely.  

McMurchy added that hopefully, the contest would get teens thinking about their own driving habits and have some fun doing it while bringing awareness to younger drivers.  

Teens have until October 20th to enter in the contest.

For more information about National Teen Driver Safety Week, and to see SGI’s full social media contest rules, visit https://www.sgi.sk.ca/news?title=stop-the-goat