The Thanksgiving weekend was an active one for the RCMP during its traffic enforcement initiative Operation Impact.
It was conducted Oct. 10 to 12 and was aimed at making Saskatchewan’s roads safer. The initiative targeted impaired driving (alcohol and drugs), distracted driving, aggressive driving including speeding, following too close, unsafe lane changes, failure to yield and careless driving and seatbelt use.
“Our goal is to ensure Saskatchewan’s roads are safe for everyone to travel on,” said S/Sgt. Stephanie Caron, commander of North Central Saskatchewan Traffic Services, in a statement.
“Each driver should remember that they aren’t the only ones travelling on Saskatchewan’s roadways. Let’s all do our part to ensure everyone reaches their destination safely.”
During Operation Impact, RCMP members pulled over or stopped 4,913 drivers in RCMP jurisdiction, and of those there were 2,223 violations.
Among them: 46 impaired driving violations, all for alcohol; four aggressive driving violations (unsafe lane changes); seven aggressive driving violations (careless driving); 42 seatbelt violations; 109 insurance related violations (such as endorsement condition violation, incorrect licence plate on a vehicle or driver operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s licence); 14 driving while prohibited offences; and 1,094 aggressive driving violations – speeding.
Of these speeding violations, 19 involved a vehicle travelling above 148 km/h. According to the RCMP this occurred in different areas of the province. Four vehicles were clocked at 153 km/h, two at 155 km/h, two at 159 km/h and one at 160 km/h.
Finally, one 27-year-old male driver was travelling on Highway 11 near Prince Albert at 185 km/h. That individual was also charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle.
