Swift Current RCMP were busy keeping an eye out for impaired drivers this holiday season.

A strong police presence ranging from patrols to checkstops on New Years night was there to help ensure a safe holiday for local motorists.

Sgt. Dale Morgan with RCMP Traffic Services says their unit issued only a pair of impaired driving charges over the holidays: "We had one just before Christmas, and one on New Year's... definitely a reduction for us in the southwest this year from last year. I think we were down about 10 or 15% on imapaired driving charges, which is a good sign."
 
As for the most effective method of keeping impaired drivers off the road, Sgt. Morgan says public tips prove to be even more beneficial than police checkstops, especially with the RID program expanding province wide, which allows drivers to report drunk drivers just by calling 9-1-1. 
 
Also, City RCMP issued three roadside suspensions and one impaired driving charge over the New Year holiday. 
 
Donovan Fehr talked with Sgt. Dale Morgan of RCMP Traffic Services: