SGI and its law enforcement partners say they are moving to a month-long traffic safety focus for 2014, replacing the two-day traffic safety blitzes of 2013.
"The month-long focus in 2014 will help keep traffic safety top of mind for Saskatchewan motorists," said Andrew Cartmell, president and CEO of SGI. "This year, resolve to drive more safely, not just for your own safety, but for the well-being of everyone on the road."
According to an SGI press release, 40 per cent of all crashes in Saskatchewan take place at intersections, so the province-wide traffic safety focus for the month of January is intersection safety. Violations such as failing to yield to pedestrians or oncoming traffic, disobeying traffic lights or stop signs and jaywalking are all on the radar.
"Many collisions in intersections are either right-angle impact or the result of a driver making a left turn and being struck by oncoming traffic," said Chief Troy Hagen, president of the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police. "Both of these scenarios have enormous potential for serious injury or loss of life, making intersection safety a priority."
In 2012, there wereclose to 12,000 collisions at intersections across the province, resulting in 33 deaths and more than 4,000 injuries.
During the winter months, SGI reminds drivers to slow down as they approach an intersection, even if they have the right of way, in case other vehicles aren't able to stop. Don't follow too closely and allow extra time to stop so there is some wiggle room when driving conditions are slippery, SGI says.
The month-long focus in December was impaired driving. Police across the province issued a total of 436 tickets related to alcohol or drug use while driving, including: 215 charges for impaired driving; 88 charges for having a blood alcohol content over .08; 18 30-day licence suspensions; and 115 24-hour licence suspensions.
In consultation with its law enforcement partners, SGI has developed a calendar outlining the traffic safety focus for each month in 2014, available online at www.sgi.sk.ca.
