April’s traffic safety focus was vulnerable road users – the actions of pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists, and the actions of others that put them in danger – but it was speeding violations that garnered the majority of tickets for motorists.
Law enforcement issued a total of 2,195* tickets during the month, including 1,720 for speeding/aggressive driving, 12 tickets related to vulnerable road users and the following offences:
• 41 charges related to impaired driving;
• 66 tickets for cellphone use;
• 173 tickets for no or improper seatbelt or child seat;
• 183 tickets for failing to stop for red light or stop sign.
STEP results :
April 15 and 16, police officers from all over the province assembled in Prince Albert for a two-day Selective Traffic Enforcement Program event. Police enforced all traffic safety violations, with a particular focus on seatbelts and child seats, cellphones, speeding or aggressive driving and impaired driving. In total, enforcement issued 408 tickets during the two-day blitz, including:
• 176 tickets for speeding or aggressive driving;
• 73 tickets for non-seatbelt use;
• 11 tickets for cellphone use while driving;
• one impaired driving charge;
• 134 tickets related to commercial vehicles.
SGI-certified car seat technicians also participated in the STEP event to help ensure and promote child passenger safety. They checked 117 child seats and seatbelts during the check stops and gave away nine car seats and 11 booster seats.
SGI reminds residents that police are focusing on impaired driving throughout the month of May. Impaired driving laws were changed last summer and now result in tougher penalties.
Visit SGI’s website at www.sgi.sk.ca for more information.
