Traffic spotlight

New drivers fared pretty well in SGI’s most recent traffic safety blitz.

During June, police targeted new drivers and motorcycle riders for infractions related to licence restrictions.

Officers only issued 74 tickets, including 51 for driving without a supervising driver, 21 for failing to comply with a licence restriction, one for exceeding the zero tolerance alcohol or drug use provision, and one for failing to display the proper learner placards on a motorcycle.

While focusing on new drivers, police also issued 5,240 citations to experienced drivers including 3,985 speeding/aggressive driving tickets, 254 impaired driving-related charges, 302 for distracted driving (192 of those for cellphone use) and 407 seatbelt/car seat/booster seat violations.

Police from all over the province also descended on Prince Albert for the  weekend of June 21-22 for a Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) event that resulted in 91 tickets for speeding/aggressive driving; 23 tickets for cellphone use while driving; 1 ticket for failing to stop for red light/stop sign; 28 tickets related to light vehicle safety; 106 tickets related to commercial vehicles; and 53 other traffic offences.

The spotlight for July is on work zone safety. With construction season in full swing, SGI is reminding motorists to slow down. Fines are double for traffic offences in work zones, but, more importantly, lives are at stake, the provincial insurer warns.