The SGI Traffic Safety Spotlight for this month is focused on speeding.
Throughout the month, police across Saskatchewan will be on the lookout for any drivers exceeding the speed limit by more than 35 and 50 km/h; exceeding the limit in a school zone; exceeding 60 km/h while passing highway workers as well as when passing an emergency vehicle or tow truck on the side of the road with lights flashing; stunting and speeding.
SGI Spokesman Tyler McMurchy stated excessive speed is one of the leading factors in traffic-related deaths and injuries on Saskatchewan’s roads.
In 2021, there were 1-thousand 263 collisions in which speed was one of the factors, resulting in 554 injuries and 20 deaths.
He also says taking into account tickets issued manually by police and those issued by photo speed enforcement, there are approximately 110-thousand speeding convictions in the province every year.
“This really shows how serious that problem is and why the new penalties, I would say, are appropriate because these casualty numbers – very similar to what we would see with distracted driving – and that’s why the tickets now match what you’re seeing.” said McMurchy, referencing new penalties for stunting and street racing that took effect this past Saturday.
As of October 1st, a fine for a 1st street racing offence now $580, up from $205; and a 3rd offence in same year will cost $2,100.
Drivers can face a $1,400 fine for a second offence and a $2,100 fine for any following offences, if they happen during the same year as the first.
“The streets are no place for street racing or for dangerous driving activities. Watching that kind of stuff might be fun in the ‘Fast and the Furious’ movie but you’ll get furious fast if you have to pay one of these expensive tickets for street racing or stunting.” McMurchy pointed out.
The new rules also expand the ways a car can be penalized for stunting, describing in detail the acts many refer to as “drifting” and “doing doughnuts.”
There are exceptions within reason, like if road conditions have caused the vehicle to lose traction or if the races are done in designated areas like highways closed for that purpose.