May long weekennd generally safe

From a traffic safety point-of-view, the summer is off to a good start with no fatalities reported over the May long weekend.

Last year was the deadliest year ever on Saskatchewan roads with 175 traffic deaths, 76 of which occurred in just four months from the Victoria Day weekend through Labour Day.

This year, Saskatchewan law enforcement agencies celebrated the holiday by targeting the kind of offences that cause unnecessary collisions and death including speeding, failure to stop at stop signs, seat belt use, cell phone use and drunk driving.

Officers handed out more than 170 tickets for speeding, more than 40 for failing to stop and more than 30 for non-seat belt use.

Earlier in the month, May 8 and 9, SGI's monthly traffic enforcement blitz, dubbed Operation Overdrive for the month, targeted drinking and driving.

Police cited a total of 356 motorists including seven for impaired driving, 102 for seatbelt violations, 34 for cell phone use, 38 for speeding and 76 for failing to stop.

Saskatchewan continues to have the worst traffic safety record in the country and the partnership between SGI and law enforcement is intended to raise awareness with the goal of making the province's roads safer for all.