Poll looks at drinking and driving in Sask.

One in five people who responded to a recent Saskatchewan poll say it’s okay to drink and drive as long as it’s for a short distance on a quiet road.

The poll by Mainstreet Analytics first analyzed the political landscape, asking people which party they would support if the election were held today. Then the poll delved into the issue of impaired driving. The survey included a random sample of 1,690 people on both landlines and cellphones reporting a margin of error of 2.38 per cent 19 times out of 20.

The poll started out by first asking people if they have ever been a passenger in a vehicle with an impaired driver, to which 15 per cent of people who responded said yes, 11 per cent would not say and five per cent were not sure.

When asked if they had ever driven a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, 86 per cent of people polled said no, while eight per cent said yes and four per cent would not say.

The poll also asked about former SGI and Highways Minister Don McMorris who stepped down from cabinet after he was recently charged with impaired driving. 

The poll asked people if McMorris should seek re-election after his charges are dealt with by the courts and 68 per cent of respondents said no. A further 10 per cent said he should seek re-election, while 22 per cent answered that they were unsure.

The final question asked people to agree or disagree with the statement: ‘driving under the influence is OK if you are travelling a short distance on quiet roads’.  In all of Saskatchewan, 19 per cent of respondents said yes, although the numbers were lower in Saskatoon and Regina than they were in rural Saskatchewan.