RCMP across Saskatchewan will be taking part in a traffic safety blitz during the Labour Day weekend.
The "enhanced enforcement focus" will begin Friday and continue through Monday, with the focus being on the province's highways.
The main emphasis will be on Highway 16 and Highway 1, with a secondary focus on Highway 7 and 11. The RCMP described these roadways as having the heaviest traffic during the long weekend.
Officers will be working on highways that cover those areas of the province and will be present in marked and unmarked cars and police motorcycles, both roving and stationary.
Among the activities targeted will be on the use of seat belts. According to a news release sent by the RCMP, "the non-use of seatbelts continues to be a significant contributing factor to the number of fatalities - roughly 40 per cent of our fatalities are a product of the non-use of seatbelts. Making the decision to not wear a seatbelt when in a motor vehicle drastically increases the likelihood of serious injury or death."
They also note it has been a deadly year in Saskatchewan with 30 people having lost their lives on provincial highways in August alone.
"For the 2012 calendar year, 120 people have died on Saskatchewan Highways. Last year on this date there were 87 fatalities to date. All three of these numbers are far too large and sadly, many of these fatalities could have been prevented."
The RCMP identifies alcohol involvement, driver inattention and speed as three clear trends that have emerged in terms of contributing factors in these fatalities. The RCMP adds ,"being the victim of a Labour Day dollision is no way to spend the last long weekend of the summer."
